Euro 2020: Wembley could be half full for knockout stages under latest plans

Wembley could be half full for the knockout stages of Euro 2020, under plans being discussed by the Football Association and the UK government.

BBC Sport understands talks are centring on 40,000 fans being allowed in, regardless of whether the easing of current restrictions is delayed.

Nothing has been finalised but plans must be sent to Uefa in the coming days.

For the first two group matches, the capacity will be 22,500.

Wembley hosts England’s three Group D fixtures, against Croatia, Scotland and the Czech Republic, as well as two last-16 ties and both semi-finals and the final.

Hampden Park in Glasgow is also among 11 venues across Europe hosting Euro 2020 games.

The others are in Rome, Munich, Baku, St Petersburg, Budapest, Seville, Bucharest, Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

Fans attending England's group games at Wembley will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative test before entry.

Spectators have been allowed back in stadiums in reduced numbers since the latest phase of lockdown easing on 17 May.

In the Premier League, clubs were allowed up to 10,000 supporters inside grounds for the last two rounds of matches while up to 7,000 were able to watch England’s recent friendlies against Austria and Romania at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

In cricket, the second Test between England and New Zealand began on Thursday with up to 18,000 spectators allowed at Edgbaston as part of a government test event.

The previous round of pilot events for larger crowds has been considered a success by government, with 15 positive Covid cases recorded from a range of events that involved more than 58,000 people in April and May.

There were about 20,000 fans at the FA Cup final at Wembley, while the World Snooker Championship final was the first sporting event for more than a year to have a capacity crowd on 3 May.

Original article 10.06.21 on the BBC Sport website

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