Euro 2020 hit by worrying Covid-19 drama just days before final
Three members of the Italian media covering Euro 2020 have tested positive for Covid-19, just two days before the final against England.
Commentator Alberto Rimedio was among three workers from national broadcaster RAI to test positive, a RAI source told Reuters on Friday.
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Rimedio, a television commentator for all of Italy's games, and two technicians - one of them based in Florence where the national team has its base - tested positive.
The media centre of the Coverciano training camp, on the outskirts of the city, was immediately sanitised.
A source close to the team told Reuters there were no particular worries about infections involving the players who are protected by strict security measures.
“I hope this will be resolved soon,” said Auro Borrelli, editor in chief of RAI Sport.
Nevertheless, the positive tests will be a scare for UEFA and the Italian football federation so close to Sunday's final at Wembley.
According to The Guardian, the players aren't worried because they are all vaccinated.
"Despite this, the federation fears that the contagious Delta variant may have hit the federation officials, who are following the Italian national team," the publication reports.
No change in plan to let Italian fans travel to final
Meanwhile, there has been no change to plans to let 1000 Italian fans travel to London to attend the final despite backlash.
British Transport Minister Grant Shapps said fans from Italy should not to try get to Wembley because of quarantine restrictions imposed to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
His call appeared to clash with plans announced earlier this week by the Italian football federation to allow a maximum of 1000 fans to fly from Italy on Sunday for the final.
However, a source said the deal had been agreed with British authorities and remained valid.
"The trip has been authorised and it's still confirmed," the source told Reuters, adding that all 1000 places had been filled.
Under the agreement, fans will be allowed to stay in Britain for a maximum of 12 hours and will have to use charter flights departing on Sunday from Milan and Rome.
They will use internal transport organised by the FIGC to get to the stadium.
They will be required to show a negative Covid-19 test, which must be carried out after 1300 Greenwich Mean Time on July 9.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella will also be at Wembley Stadium, where crowds of around 60,000 people are expected to watch the final.
with agencies
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