UK imposes conditions and refuses to allow thousands of fans to travel, but Ceferin gets favourable treatment for VIPs

UEFA tolerates the most undignified end to Euro 2020

photo_camera PHOTO/REUTERS - UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin

The disgraceful presentation of the Superliga could only be surpassed by UEFA's arguments against the tournament. While Florentino Pérez was nightly parading his idea, UEFA was charging all member teams with fines and bans. But the big mistake was that " football belongs to the fans ". That slogan has been burned into the hearts of the fans and now it is time for Ceferin to take the blame.

#Brexit

Euro 2020 took place because contracts with television and sponsors made it necessary to play these matches. With more or less public the show had to go on, even if it was in the midst of a pandemic that each country faces as it wishes. From half-empty stadiums like La Cartuja to remembering better times with Budapest packed to capacity. UEFA made the gesture of pandering to Europe over Brexit by moving the press centre from London to Amsterdam. It was unable to do anything else because the goal was the big final at Wembley and they didn't want to upset Boris Johnson and his guys.

El primer ministro británico Boris Johnson
#Normality

The games have been played as well as they could be played. That has been quite a lot compared to what was going on a year ago. But travel has been very limited, although the World Health Organisation has already pointed to Euro 2020 as the culprit for the spike in cases on the old continent. Fans without masks, celebrations in big cities... the pandemic has been going on for a long time and people want to return to some kind of normality. Whatever it is.

#VIP

But then came the climax of the tournament. The semi-finals and the final in London. All this spiced up by the English government's tough restrictions on foreigners wanting to enter its territory and, finally, a UEFA that has bent the knee to England in gratitude for its teams jumping off the Super League. 

If the UK asks for a 10-day quarantine for anyone entering its territory, UEFA is silent. Even if it can be reduced to five with a negative PCR. The fine for breaking the rule is £10,000. The press can enter with a negative test 72 hours before, although at Wembley they go through another test and, if all goes well, they are sent to the hotel without leaving until the time of the Spain-Italy or England-Denmark games.

El presidente de la UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin, y el rey Felipe VI de España antes de partido de la selección española en la Eurocopa
#WeNeedYou

The RFEF has made an appeal on social media with the slogan #WeNeedYou for the Spanish colony in Great Britain to attend the match. Prices are dropping as the date approaches because the 60,000 seats allowed by UEFA could remain empty. From 240 euros they have already dropped to 80. The Italians would beat the Spaniards in terms of population on the island.

#FansOfSecondLevel

The biggest embarrassment for Ceferin is the first- and second-class fans he has created for the last two matches. The English government will allow 2,500 exclusive guests to attend matches without quarantine. Just a negative PCR, flight, match and back home. This is what second-tier fans usually do, and they pay for their own travel on top of that.

El presidente de la UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin
#Sponsors

The English say it is Europe that is separate from them. Their rules are met or they are met. While Sánchez's government was given an afternoon's airing over San Mamés, with Johnson they have jumped through hoops. The Basque laws were much tougher because they included the usual suspicion of the Spanish flag, but UEFA didn't even argue. It offered money and a minor tournament to avoid complaints. With England's quarantine they didn't even fight. If the fans can't go, that's up to them. The important thing is that the VIPs go. 

It is possible that the guests of the sponsors, managers, presidents, influential people... who come in that bubble have been important to celebrate the tournament and pay the prizes. But it is necessary to equalise at the top and allow the same protocol to the rest of the fans from Italy, Spain, or Denmark.

Fotografía de archivo del trofeo de la Eurocopa de fútbol
#Excuses

Ceferin spat upwards with the Super League and now his own arguments are falling on him. Football does not belong to the fans. Nor UEFA, nor LaLiga, nor Florentino Pérez. It is a business that is put in the hands of patrons who want to collect on the debt. The fans are a necessary evil that gives colour and noise to the stands in exchange for spending their money on trips, hotels, meals, tickets... the business only belongs to a few. 
 

More in Sports