Scottish football fans have been assured that ministers are determined to ensure they can watch the nation compete on home turf at this summer’s Euro 2020 tournament. The tournament will take place from 11 June to 11 July 2021.
Nicola Sturgeon promised the Scottish Government would do “absolutely everything we can” to allow matches to take place at Hampden Park in front of spectators.
Reports this week suggested that Uefa is worried that several host cities, including Glasgow, will have to be stripped of their planned games due to tough coronavirus rules.
The governing body wants each of the countries staging matches to submit detailed plans on how they will allow the return of fans by a deadline of 7 April.
Hampden Park is currently due to host three Group D matches on 14, 18 and 22 June, which will include Scotland’s games against Croatia and the Czech Republic.
It is the first time that Scotland’s men’s team has qualified for a major tournament since the World Cup in 1998, so Hampden losing the matches would be devastating for fans.
Asked on Friday if she would be able to give Uefa the assurances it needed by the deadline, Ms Sturgeon replied: “I certainly hope so.”
She added: “Nobody wants Scotland to lose the Euros and I don’t think we should be in the position right now of thinking that’s the case. There’s a deadline by which all countries have to give indications to Uefa about what they think will be possible in terms of fan attendance and fan zones.
“All countries are grappling with this, not just Scotland. While we’re really hopeful…looking too far ahead is just difficult to do.
“But let me be really clear – we are absolutely intent on having the Euros, having Hampden as one of the host stadiums of the Euros.
“We’ve always been intent on that – but let’s say we’re particularly keen on it now that would bring the opportunity to see Scotland play at Hampden as well.”
She added: “We haven’t waited so long to see Scotland play in a major tournament to not do absolutely everything we can to ensure there are going to be fans there to cheer the team on.”
National clinical director of the Scottish Government, Jason Leitch, said he was “equally hopeful” Scotland would be able to play its part in Euro 2020, but it was too early to say how big the crowds might be.
He added that ministers “may well” be able to give more certainty on this by the April deadline, but that any decision would also have to be reversible if safety became an issue.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said urged ministers to “get round the table” with Uefa as soon as possible and make “every effort” to ensure the matches took place.
“As a huge fan of our national team, I know how terrible it would be if Scotland could no longer host these fixtures,” he added.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3c9fuNr
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