There are reports of lax security at Wembley allowing in hundreds of ticketless fans and not checking COVID-19 status for the UEFA EURO 2020 semi-finals.
The Final is between Italy and England on Sunday at 20.00 UK time.
The capacity for the semi-final was set at 66,000, but clearly there were some discrepancies, because Sky Sport Italia transfer pundit Gianluca Di Marzio and others noted there were a good 70,000 in the arena for the England game against Denmark.
Now the Daily Mail report that supporters ‘stormed the stadium and gained access without showing tickets.’
That is perhaps not surprising, considering a pitch invader managed to join in the Italy celebrations after their penalty shoot-out win against Spain, accosting Marco Verratti.
This is more than just a security breach, because it also means they were not checked for their COVID-19 status.
It’s particularly worrying considering RAI Sport announced their commentator Alberto Rimedio and two members of staff who were present at Wembley for the Italy semi-final against Spain on Tuesday have now tested positive for COVID-19.
Fans are only supposed to be allowed in if they can show evidence of having received two doses of the vaccine or a recent negative Coronavirus test.
Previously, no Italy fans have been allowed to travel to England for the games, but the Italian Federation struck a deal with UEFA allowing for 1,000 to be flown in as long as they remain in a ‘bubble’ and stay on UK soil for no longer than 12 hours.
They must provide negative COVID tests before and after their journey, as well as quarantine in Italy for five days upon their return.