The Aviva Stadium in Dublin looks set to lose the fixtures it was due to hold this summer, as the Football Association of Ireland has informed UEFA that they can not give the necessary guarantees required regarding a minimum number of spectators being allowed to attend the games.
Dublin Set to Lose Euro 2020 Fixtures
The FAI are Unable to Assure UEFA About Fans Attending the Fixtures
Dublin was set to be one of 12 cities to host games during this summer’s European Championships. It has become the first host city where guarantees required by UEFA, believed to be a minimum of 25 per cent of the stadium’s capacity being filled, can not be given.
The Aviva Stadium was set to host three group stage games, before a Round of 16 clash that will potentially involve England.
Irish football’s governing body released a statement today, saying: “The Football Association of Ireland, on advice and guidance from the Government, has today notified UEFA that owing to the COVID-19 pandemic it is not in a position at this point to provide assurances on minimum spectator levels at the UEFA EURO 2020 matches due to be held in Dublin in June.”
FAI Chief Executive Jonathan Hill said: “We have made our submission to UEFA today and now await their response once submissions from all 12 host cities have been received and considered.”
The FAI said it will keep the issue under review until the end of this month when UEFA is poised to make a final decision on the matter.
If Dublin is to lose these fixtures, it is believed some or all of the games planned for Ireland’s capital will be given to Wembley Stadium.
The State of Play Across Europe
Russia and England have been the cities hosting the most optimism ahead of this summer’s games, as the FA and the RFU have promised that stadiums will be at least half full throughout the tournament.
Scotland has pledged that Hampden Park will be at least 25 per cent full this summer, while the same promise has been made by the Royal Spanish Football Association about the San Mames.
Denmark’s Parken Stadium which can hold up to 38,000 people plans to host 12,000 fans this summer, While Romania’s Arena Nationala expects to host the same amount of fans.
Rome, Baku, Budapest, and Amsterdam have all promised to meet UEFA’s spectator requirements. UEFA seems to be interested in moving the games of any other cities that could fall out of the tournament to current host cities, rather than inviting new ones.
This could mean St.Petersburg and London could be able to snatch more games, should the COVID-19 pandemic rule out cities currently set to host these games.
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