FILE – In this Saturday, May 27, 2017 file photo, people walk towards Wembley Stadium ahead of the FA Cup final soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea, in London. The British government faced accusations of mixed messaging Wednesday June 23, 2021, that could threaten its plan to fully lift lockdown restrictions in England next month after it decided to allow more than 60,000 people inside Wembley Stadium for the latter stages of soccer’s European Championship.
Czech Republic’s Tomas Holes, right, and England’s Jack Grealish go for the ball during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between Czech Republic and England, at Wembley stadium in London, Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
England’s Harry Kane and Jack Grealish, left, applaud the supporters at the end of the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between the Czech Republic and England at Wembley stadium in London, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. England won 1-0.
An England supporter holds up a poster suggesting his team lineup to England’s manager Gareth Southgate during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between the Czech Republic and England at Wembley stadium in London, Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
England’s Harry Kane and Jack Grealish, right, applaud fans at the end of the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between Czech Republic and England, at Wembley stadium in London, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. England won 1-0.
England supporters react in the fan zone in Trafalgar Square in London, Tuesday, June 22, 2021 during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between England and the Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium.
England supporters react after a goal was scored that was later disallowed in the fan zone in Trafalgar Square in London, Tuesday, June 22, 2021 during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between England and the Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium.
General view ahead of the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Hungary and France at the Ferenc Puskas stadium in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, June 19, 2021.
LONDON (AP) — The British government faced accusations of mixed messaging Wednesday that could threaten its plan to fully lift lockdown restrictions in England next month after it decided to allow more than 60,000 people inside Wembley Stadium for the latter stages of soccer’s European Championship.
Following a request from UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, to allow more fans inside the London stadium for the semifinals on July 6 and 7 and the final on July 11, Britain agreed to increase capacity at the 90,000-seat stadium to 75%. That will make the three matches the largest gatherings at a sporting event since the coronavirus pandemic took root in the country in March 2020.
In contrast, only 20,000 people were inside the stadium on Tuesday night when England beat the Czech Republic 1-0.
The 75% decision has stoked worries that it will ignite a scourge of new infections in the U.K., which already has Europe’s second-worst pandemic toll of 128,000 people dead and is experiencing a third wave of infections due to the delta variant first identified in India.
Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, warned that allowing 60,000 fans to crowd into Wembley is a “recipe for disaster” given the delta variant, which scientists say said 40% to 80% more contagious.
“We are so close to getting on top of this virus with the success of the vaccination program –- why put the end of lockdown on July 19 at risk?” he said.
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