UEFA targeted by the World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) blames the crowds at the European Football Championship for the resurgence of the corona numbers in Europe. The gathering of fans from different countries and regions in stadiums, but also at public viewing in locales, is driving the infection rate up again. After a ten-week decline, the number of infections in Europe rose by ten percent in the last week.

The triggers cited are the crowds in the host cities of EURO 2021, travel and the relaxation of contact restrictions. A new corona wave is inevitable if caution and vigilance are given up.

The EURO as a “super spreader”?

“We need to look at a lot more than just the stadiums,” said WHO senior crisis expert Catherine Smallwood. It is also about how people get there, whether they are out and about in overcrowded buses or watch the games in full bars. “It’s these small, continuous events that are driving the spread of the virus.”

The fear of a new corona wave in autumn persists. “But what we are seeing now is that it could come even earlier,” insisted Smallwood. When asked whether the EM could become a “super spreader”, the head of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Hans Kluge, said: “I hope not. But it cannot be ruled out either.”

The European Football Union (UEFA) is sticking to the plans for the controversial audience admission. “The measures to contain the coronavirus at each venue are fully coordinated with the regulations of the responsible local health authorities,” explained UEFA.

“It cannot be completely ruled out that events and meetings could ultimately lead to a local increase in the number of cases,” said the association’s medical advisor, the Swiss Daniel Koch. “But this would not only apply to football matches, but also to all situations that are now permitted under the easing measures decided by the competent local authorities.”

“Absolutely Irresponsible”

The German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer called the UEFA position “absolutely irresponsible”. Seehofer said with a view to the semifinals and final at London’s Wembley Stadium, it is predetermined that a football game with 60,000 spectators would promote the infection process, especially in a country that is already severely affected by the Delta variant.

Figures from Scotland confirmed critics. According to official information, almost 2000 corona cases can be linked to the European Championship games in Glasgow and London. Most of these, however, did not fall within UEFA’s immediate remit. Two thirds of those who tested positive in 1991 are fans who have traveled to London against advice. On June 18, the Scots had played against England at Wembley. Almost 400 infected people from Scotland are said to have been in the stadium, while thousands more fans populated the streets and squares in the city center.

In Italy, calls for stricter controls were raised ahead of the quarter-finals between England and Ukraine in Rome today. The Italian Embassy in London announced that British fans would be denied entry to the stadium even if they had tickets to the game. This also applies to anyone who has been on the British Isles in the past 14 days.

England’s association, which has been allocated a quota of 2560 tickets, is now trying to sell the tickets to England fans living in Italy. A total of 16,000 are allowed into the stadium.

The situation is becoming more critical

In St. Petersburg, where Spain and Switzerland met yesterday, the situation is coming to a head. In Russia, the authorities reported 672 corona deaths within 24 hours on Thursday. More than ever since the beginning of the pandemic. The vaccination skepticism in Russia is still high. In the arena of St. Petersburg, 50 percent of the more than 60,000 seats at the last tournament game in the Russian metropolis could still be filled.