Wembley football friendly in balance
England’s football friendly against Italy at Wembley on March 27 looks increasingly in doubt as a consequence of the Italian government’s stark measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
The Football Association is in contact with the British Government, but ministers have so far resisted a dramatic shutdown on major gatherings similar to the one imposed in Italy.
Although Italy’s decree currently covers only sporting events within its own borders, there are now serious questions over the likelihood of tens of thousands of English and Italian fans being allowed to attend
Wembley together later this month. The FA said last night there was “no change” over plans for the friendly, but Gianluca Vialli, the former Chelsea and Watford manager who has been appointed Italy’s delegation chief, believes it is unclear whether the game will go ahead.
“We assume the game is going to go ahead unless we are told otherwise but it is difficult for us,” said
Vialli, who is also a member of the Azzurri’s backroom staff.
“We would like to know what to do in order to prepare for Euro 2020 in the best possible way. We have scheduled this game but we need to be realistic and recognise that the governments and the sports authorities will decide what we have to do and we will do that. We have to take this one day at a time.”
Gareth Southgate also admitted on Tuesday that FA chiefs cannot guarantee the game will take place, given it is “an ever-changing picture for everybody”.
Italy has already banned sporting events in the worst-affected northern regions.
The Italian football league’s governing body has yet to release a revised schedule but it is understood six Serie A matches that were postponed last week will be played this weekend under the behind-closeddoors restrictions. That includes one of the biggest matches of the season – the Juventus v Inter game.
Four Serie A matches went ahead
last weekend with fans present as they were taking place in areas that had not been affected by measures to control the outbreak.
There are also doubts across Europe over the fate of Champions League and Europa League matches in the coming weeks.
European Leagues president Lars-christer Olsson has moved to play down fears last night, but said: “The important thing is that we are flexible and we already agreed we will have to adjust and we have to finish with the domestic matches before the European Championships so the players have an opportunity to rest.”
Despite the coronavirus crisis gathering pace, Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, told media yesterday that cancelling or postponing Tokyo 2020 was not discussed at a key meeting between officials, despite a warning from Japanese officials earlier this week that the Games might have to be put back until the end of this year.