UEFA officials and Euro sponsors exempt from covid border po

[1902 1,167]

It appears that UEFA officials and anyone who is a senior official for a sponsor is exempt from quarantine restrictions upon entering the UK.

 

I may have misunderstood this but as a Brit who lives abroad and given that I havent seen anyone in my family for two years (partly because I didnt think travel was justified if it risked bringing variants into the UK or into Belgium), this makes me sick to my stomach.

 

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/731/regulation/2/made

Edited June 23, 2021 by 1902

[Ward 3 484]

What an absolute joke. Shows covid really is a load of BS.

[cambridgeshire canary 7,798]

Those in charge and with power don't obey the rules. More news soon, such as water is wet

[1902 1,167]

Almost as sick as @cambridgeshire canary will be when he sees the length of my title.

Edited June 23, 2021 by 1902

[cambridgeshire canary 7,798]

1 minute ago, 1902 said:

Almost as sick as @cambridgeshire canary will be when he sees the length if my title.

Hey, at least I remember there's a letter limit 😉

[WD40 726]

Disgraceful.

Haven’t seen my family for over 18 months as well, no one is above the law - are they?

[birchfest 401]

I’m coming back to the UK for a month in July, first time in nearly a year and the extra tests at the moment are costing me triple the flight was. I know people will say ‘yeah you shouldn’t be abroad’ but some of us have jobs/relationships that force us to be. Was really hoping to see Spain added to the green list to bring the cost down, no luck. Missed Christmas and Easter, which originally last summer was the plan to be able to see my family for a bit.

 

yeah, it stinks all of this, just like keeping Portugal on the green list for the football too.

[1902 1,167]

2 minutes ago, birchfest said:

I’m coming back to the UK for a month in July, first time in nearly a year and the extra tests at the moment are costing me triple the flight was. I know people will say ‘yeah you shouldn’t be abroad’ but some of us have jobs/relationships that force us to be. Was really hoping to see Spain added to the green list to bring the cost down, no luck. Missed Christmas and Easter, which originally last summer was the plan to be able to see my family for a bit.

 

yeah, it stinks all of this, just like keeping Portugal on the green list for the football too.

And India for a meeting with Modi. Good luck and I hope you enjoy your time with the family.

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 4,616]

The government couldn't win. 

Either they agreed to UEFA demands to waive the quarantine rules and upset those who wish to travel but cannot do so due to these rules, or they didn't agree to the rules and England would've lost the semis and final to Hungary which would've annoyed a lot of people, particularly those with tickets, as well as losing a lot of money that the events would've brought in.

[1902 1,167]

1 hour ago, Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man said:

The government couldn't win. 

Either they agreed to UEFA demands to waive the quarantine rules and upset those who wish to travel but cannot do so due to these rules, or they didn't agree to the rules and England would've lost the semis and final to Hungary which would've annoyed a lot of people, particularly those with tickets, as well as losing a lot of money that the events would've brought in.

Given that I'm not arguing the travel rules are unfair, just that they should be uniform that's immaterial.

Also a) any prolongation of restrictions costs more than this match will bring in. If this results in a new increase in cases, even a localised one, then its clearly not worth it. This pandemic is the most costly situation government had faced since WW2, its a drop in the ocean.

 

b) This only makes sense if you think governments only responsibility is to win votes, otherwise you are equating the desire of some people to attend one football match with the desire of others to visit their families for the first time in 12 months +.

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 4,616]

35 minutes ago, 1902 said:

Given that I'm not arguing the travel rules are unfair, just that they should be uniform that's immaterial.

Also a) any prolongation of restrictions costs more than this match will bring in. If this results in a new increase in cases, even a localised one, then its clearly not worth it. This pandemic is the most costly situation government had faced since WW2, its a drop in the ocean.

 

b) This only makes sense if you think governments only responsibility is to win votes, otherwise you are equating the desire of some people to attend one football match with the desire of others to visit their families for the first time in 12 months +.

I'm not arguing for or against either option, by the way, as I too have family overseas that I'd like to visit this summer. I was merely pointing out that the government would cop a lot of flak whichever decision they took here.

[Bethnal Yellow and Green 2,424]

37 minutes ago, 1902 said:

Given that I'm not arguing the travel rules are unfair, just that they should be uniform that's immaterial.

Also a) any prolongation of restrictions costs more than this match will bring in. If this results in a new increase in cases, even a localised one, then its clearly not worth it. This pandemic is the most costly situation government had faced since WW2, its a drop in the ocean.

 

b) This only makes sense if you think governments only responsibility is to win votes, otherwise you are equating the desire of some people to attend one football match with the desire of others to visit their families for the first time in 12 months +.

There is a balancing act between allowing in a couple 100 (max) UEFA officials/sponsors and tens of thousands of Brits abroad who want to come into the country without restrictions. Not that Brits are being stopped coming into the country, just there is a requirement to quarantine. I have family in Japan but I cannot go and see them as I'm not allowed into the country at all - even with a period of quarantine. 

There is an obvious economic benefit to allowing a few showpiece events from happening, such as the Euros, Wimbledon (which is also covered by the legislation) etc.

It is also worth noting that the people visiting for the Euros are only allowed to go to Euro events, so they are not suppose to be coming into the UK and going to restaurants/shopping etc. The reality is they will arrive, attend the match they are here for and then leave pretty much immediately. These are the same rules as pilots and other 'exempt' professions (for which the list is quite extensive), including all the players in the Euros.

 

[Tetteys Jig 851]

1 minute ago, Bethnal Yellow and Green said:

There is a balancing act between allowing in a couple 100 (max) UEFA officials/sponsors and tens of thousands of Brits abroad who want to come into the country without restrictions. Not that Brits are being stopped coming into the country, just there is a requirement to quarantine. I have family in Japan but I cannot go and see them as I'm not allowed into the country at all - even with a period of quarantine. 

There is an obvious economic benefit to allowing a few showpiece events from happening, such as the Euros, Wimbledon (which is also covered by the legislation) etc.

It is also worth noting that the people visiting for the Euros are only allowed to go to Euro events, so they are not suppose to be coming into the UK and going to restaurants/shopping etc. The reality is they will arrive, attend the match they are here for and then leave pretty much immediately. These are the same rules as pilots and other 'exempt' professions (for which the list is quite extensive), including all the players in the Euros.

 

I do understand the logic but this exception really does stink the place out completely and shows up how ridiculous some of the existing rules are.

It's probably time to move to the "personal responsibility" stage now anyway as its all become a bit farcical. The government decisions just don't seem to be completely about the virus anymore.

[1902 1,167]

46 minutes ago, Bethnal Yellow and Green said:

There is a balancing act between allowing in a couple 100 (max) UEFA officials/sponsors and tens of thousands of Brits abroad who want to come into the country without restrictions. Not that Brits are being stopped coming into the country, just there is a requirement to quarantine. I have family in Japan but I cannot go and see them as I'm not allowed into the country at all - even with a period of quarantine. 

There is an obvious economic benefit to allowing a few showpiece events from happening, such as the Euros, Wimbledon (which is also covered by the legislation) etc.

It is also worth noting that the people visiting for the Euros are only allowed to go to Euro events, so they are not suppose to be coming into the UK and going to restaurants/shopping etc. The reality is they will arrive, attend the match they are here for and then leave pretty much immediately. These are the same rules as pilots and other 'exempt' professions (for which the list is quite extensive), including all the players in the Euros.

 

Im sorry @Bethnal Yellow and Green but I have already made it clear that im not advocating the wholesale dropping of restrictions for those of us who live abroad. Im saying those restrictions shouldn't be lifted for the representatives of Coke so that they can attend a football match. It makes a mockery of the restrictions and makes it appear that there is one rule for those in power and another for the rest of us, which risks the social cohesion needed to fight a virus.

"It is also worth noting that the people visiting for the Euros are only allowed to go to Euro events, so they are not suppose to be coming into the UK and going to restaurants/shopping etc. The reality is they will arrive, attend the match they are here for and then leave pretty much immediately. These are the same rules as pilots and other 'exempt' professions (for which the list is quite extensive), including all the players in the Euros."

We already have a case study for this kind of event, in that the G7 has apparently caused a cases spike in Cornwall, so recent experience says that the 'its only a few people' line of argument holds very little water. Additionally it says Euro events. It does not say Euro events crucial to the functioning of the match itself. In other words it allows the whole UEFA circus to go on unhindered without any reference to whether this is necessary or not when staging a final.

The economic imperative is the end of restrictions, that doesnt happen if we keep making exceptions for short term economic gain. Its the logic of Portugal's recent premature opening up, 'Eat out to help out' and Belgium's 18 person bubbles last Autumn.

[keelansgrandad 6,680]

What about supporters?

Say the final is Spain v France. Surely there will be 20K of each countries supporters allowed in if 60K will be the capacity?

What will they require to come here?

[Mr Angry 2,017]

The son of a friend of mine is volunteering at Wembley and he is overseeing the car pool being used to pick up the various dignitaries at the airports and take them to the matches. I understood that they were being taken straight to Wembley and then back to the airports straight after. That doesn’t sound very likely to be honest but I will be catching up with him tomorrow evening so I will ask if that is actually happening.

[Greavsy 2,645]

Just now, Mr Angry said:

The son of a friend of mine is volunteering at Wembley and he is overseeing the car pool being used to pick up the various dignitaries at the airports and take them to the matches. I understood that they were being taken straight to Wembley and then back to the airports straight after. That doesn’t sound very likely to be honest but I will be catching up with him tomorrow evening so I will ask if that is actually happening.

Grant Schapps just said much the same on the news. Not that his friends son is working the car park! 

Along the lines of "they are coming in to do their job / role at the match, then leave, they are not off shopping to Harrods or anywhere else"  

[Virtual reality 860]

3 hours ago, Bethnal Yellow and Green said:

There is a balancing act between allowing in a couple 100 (max) UEFA officials/sponsors and tens of thousands of Brits abroad who want to come into the country without restrictions. Not that Brits are being stopped coming into the country, just there is a requirement to quarantine. I have family in Japan but I cannot go and see them as I'm not allowed into the country at all - even with a period of quarantine. 

There is an obvious economic benefit to allowing a few showpiece events from happening, such as the Euros, Wimbledon (which is also covered by the legislation) etc.

It is also worth noting that the people visiting for the Euros are only allowed to go to Euro events, so they are not suppose to be coming into the UK and going to restaurants/shopping etc. The reality is they will arrive, attend the match they are here for and then leave pretty much immediately. These are the same rules as pilots and other 'exempt' professions (for which the list is quite extensive), including all the players in the Euros.

 

I’ve read that the number expected is 3000 made up of uefa and their guests from their sponsors 

[Mr Angry 2,017]

25 minutes ago, Greavsy said:

Grant Schapps just said much the same on the news. Not that his friends son is working the car park! 

Along the lines of "they are coming in to do their job / role at the match, then leave, they are not off shopping to Harrods or anywhere else"  

Well, Shapps and my friend did go to the same school but there’s a few years between them so I doubt that Shapps would know my friend’s son 😄

[Capt. Pants 5,008]

2 hours ago, keelansgrandad said:

What about supporters?

Say the final is Spain v France. Surely there will be 20K of each countries supporters allowed in if 60K will be the capacity?

What will they require to come here?

Agreed. I would hope common sense prevails and they change the venue. Good old Portugal the obvious venue.

And of course they would take the virus back to their own countries. 

I think 60,000 is too far too soon and letting in all these UEFA officials is a disgrace as it would be allowing anyone else in without quarentine.