WE’RE READY
SFA to tell UEFA they can host fans at Euros
THE SFA will tomorrow confirm to UEFA that Hampden will be able to accommodate fans for this summer’s Euro finals.
Sportsmail understands final discussions are ongoing with the Scottish Government to agree the precise percentage of the stadium capacity to include in the submission to European football’s governing body.
Making a commitment about supporters being inside grounds is a key assurance being sought from all 12 host cities ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.
The number put forward can then be ramped up over the course of this month — in line with any easing of the Covid situation — before a final figure is set.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin previously refused to rule out relocating Hampden’s four games to England if no guarantees on supporter numbers were forthcoming. The Scottish Government have
taken a cautious approach to the issue, but national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch offered clear signs of optimism in his weekend comments. ‘I think with a fair wind — with good restrictions now — if people follow them, we will have crowds in Hampden and other UK stadia in June,’ said Leitch. ‘I’m not sure that will look normal. I think it may well be limited and distanced.’ Hampden has a capacity of 51,000, with Leitch also indicating what he felt could be possible amid the ongoing restrictions. ‘There are a number of scenarios UEFA, the SFA and the government are working on,’ he stated. ‘There are a variety of scenarios from basically zero to half the crowd, or even more than that. ‘I think the most likely is somewhere between those two extremes by the time we get to June.’ Scotland kick off their Group D campaign against the Czech Republic at Hampden on June 14 and are scheduled to face Croatia in Glasgow on June 22. A trip to Wembley is sandwiched between those fixtures, with the UK Government planning for at least 10,000 fans to attend England’s group matches. It’s believed all 12 cities will indicate an ability to host fans this week, although some may only be able to offer ten per cent of the stadium capacity. That low figure may not be enough to satisfy Ceferin, with reports claiming that Dublin is currently most at risk of losing matches. It has also been suggested that UEFA could delay a decision on whether any cities are cut from their list as the continent continues to wrestle with the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.