Seehofer criticizes UEFA: "That is absolutely irresponsible"

The criticism of the European Football Union in the discussion about the admission of spectators to the current European championship continues.

He considers the position of UEFA to be "absolutely irresponsible," said Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) on Thursday.

Meanwhile, UEFA continues to refer to the local authorities when deciding on the exact number of spectators admitted to the European Championship matches.

And they are by no means an exception for the soccer games at London's Wembley Stadium.

"We all know that avoiding contact and certain hygiene regulations are essential to overcome the infections one day," said Seehofer at the federal press conference in Berlin.

But if you see the pictures of “people who are very close to each other” and “celebrate success with big hugs”, it is “mapped out that this promotes the infection process”.

In the 2-0 defeat of the German national team in the European Championship round of 16 against England on Tuesday, 41,973 spectators were at Wembley Stadium.

For the semi-finals and the final in the London football temple, even 60,000 spectators are to be admitted.

Because the corona numbers recently rose again in Great Britain due to the delta variant, the step is controversial.

He could "only appeal to UEFA not to pass it on to the local health authorities," said Seehofer. “A sports association should explain clearly: We don't want that, we are reducing the number of spectators.” Commerce should “not outshine the protection against infection for the population”.

Before Seehofer, Vice Chancellor and SPD Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz as well as SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach were very critical of the large number of fans returning to the stadiums. However, UEFA is unwaveringly sticking to its spectator plans. The measures to contain the pandemic at each venue are fully coordinated with the regulations of the responsible local health authorities, she announced on Thursday at the request of the German press agency. The final decision on the number of spectators admitted to the matches and the entry requirements are the responsibility of the local authorities - UEFA follows them.

"It cannot be completely ruled out that events and meetings could ultimately lead to a local increase in the number of cases," said the association's medical advisor, Daniel Koch. “But this would not only apply to football matches, but also to all situations that are now permitted within the framework of the easing measures decided by the responsible local authorities.” The Europe-wide vaccination campaigns and border controls would “help prevent a new big wave from starting in Europe and puts pressure on the respective health systems, as was the case with the previous waves of infections ”.

Figures from Scotland recently confirmed concerns about the risk of contagion.

According to official information, almost 2000 corona cases can be linked to EM games there.

The situation is also coming to a head in St. Petersburg, where the quarter-finals between Spain and Switzerland will be played on Friday.

Nevertheless, 50 percent of the more than 60,000 seats at the last tournament game in the stadium in the Russian port city are to be filled.

At other sporting events too, spectators return in droves.

At the tennis tournament in Wimbledon, around 20,000 fans are allowed on the facility every day, and at the finals (July 10th and 11th) the Center Court can even be fully occupied.

140,000 spectators are to be admitted to the Formula 1 race in Silverstone on July 18th.

The (partial) admission of fans to these competitions is part of a government test program to investigate the spread of the virus at major events in Great Britain.