• Brussels.Reclosure of the forced quarantine of Spain to tourists

The plan was clear. Between June and July the national leagues had to be concluded so that, once the first problem had been settled, both the Champions and the Europa League could be concluded in the four weeks of August. However, pessimism is increasing in the clubs regarding the possibility of being able to play the last rounds of the two continental tournaments in competition.

The restrictions on travelers imposed in Spain or the United Kingdom, where citizens arriving from abroad will have to comply with a quarantine of 14 days once they arrive in their territory, make European competitions unfeasible for now. UEFA, however, will seek pacts with the governments of countries with affected clubs to save their crown jewels . As long as said measures are still in force in August.

Considering the large number of countries involved both in the Champions League (Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England), and in the Europa League (Switzerland, Turkey, Denmark, Ukraine, Austria and Greece), it is difficult to forecast the free movement of footballers without agreements at the highest level in between. "And if these pacts are not reached, perhaps there is no other choice but to think about the next season" , sources familiar with the problem admit to this newspaper.

Exceptions

The Ministerial Order SND / 403/2020 published yesterday in the Official State Gazette was nothing more than the confirmation of the enormous difficulties that UEFA will have to overcome to continue with the Champions League. From this Friday, May 15, and during the time that the state of alarm is in force (for now until the next day 24, but still pending its hypothetical extensions), people from abroad must quarantine the following 14 days upon arrival , they must remain at your home or accommodation. The Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, even added yesterday that these measures could be prolonged "most likely throughout the period of de-escalation."

The ministerial order published in the BOE only excludes from these measures "cross-border workers, transporters and crews, as well as health professionals who are going to carry out their work , provided they have not been in contact with people diagnosed with Covid -19 ».

"Specific solutions"

“It is still too early to resolve on issues that will occur in August. But, if necessary, specific solutions for certain groups cannot be ruled out. It would be studied at the time how to carry it all out, ”government sources warned yesterday against this newspaper that it was impossible for the footballers of European clubs to play in Spain if they had to keep a period of quarantine upon arrival.

From the Government, in addition, they give as an example the special sensitivity shown with respect to athletes and the health plan designed together with the League to dispute from the month of June the remaining days of the league championship. And with a competition protocol in which the teams will be able to move throughout the Spanish territory, whatever their de-escalation phase , but under strict safety regulations on their trips by coach, train or plane.

The five Spanish teams that continue in continental competition (Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Atlético, Sevilla and Getafe) remain in expectation. Although no one dares to advance events, they curiously attend to the decisions that are being made in the rest of Europe. Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Glasgow Rangers are waiting for the British government to exempt elite athletes from the quarantine period in order to receive rivals at their stadium in the remaining rounds.

The case of the United Kingdom

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in his Covid-19 Recovery Strategy Document , has already admitted the possibility of including "small exceptions" regarding the 14 days of quarantine for travelers to be imposed this month. His executive is expected to do more about it later this week in a country that is still far from controlling the pandemic and that has already counted more than 32,000 deaths.

In any case, the United Kingdom and France [where PSG and Olympique de Lyon will not be able to play until September by order of the Macron government] have agreed on their own an unrestricted airlift . This Tuesday, in addition, the European Commission will present its plan on the progressive reopening of borders and the mobility of people across the continent. In Denmark, meanwhile, foreign citizens without a residence permit are still prohibited from entering the country.

Problems with a single headquarters

The UEFA working group plans to meet again on Wednesday to continue studying different scenarios that allow both the Champions League and the Europa League to advance. The top European body does not see anything clear taking the competitions to a single venue , where all the clubs involved could confine their players until the end of their participation. The extreme difficulty in finding a country that meets all sanitary requirements makes this possibility unfeasible. Yes, the option of shortening tournaments is still on the table, with single-game eliminations. Although the priority of the highest European body continues to be to try to conclude with the original format. And if the clubs cannot access a specific country, reach special agreements with the authorities.

Historically, UEFA has already had to deal with cases in which footballers were unable to cross a country's borders. Like Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was unable to play the 2019 EuropaLeague final with Arsenal in Baku as the Armenian population was banned in Azerbaijan. Even Frenchman Serge Aurier, who was denied a visa in 2016 by British authorities for having a criminal record.

In accordance with the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • Salvador Illa
  • France
  • Denmark
  • Real Madrid
  • Greece
  • Seville
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • Germany
  • Austria
  • Barcelona
  • Boris Johnson
  • European Comission
  • Europe
  • Italy
  • sports

Champions League 2019 - 2020A pact for the jewel of Europe: play the Champions like a World Cup

More sportThe first charity race to raise funds for COVID-19 research

EconomyBorders will open to tourism in late July, study finds