The harsh criticism of the audience policy of the European Football Union Uefa continues and is underpinned by new statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO). Accordingly, the number of new corona infections in Europe is increasing again for the first time after a ten-week decline.
Driven by “travel, meetings and relaxation of social restrictions,” the number of cases rose by ten percent last week, said WHO European Regional Director Hans Kluge on Thursday in Copenhagen. According to WHO expert Catherine Smallwood, those responsible in the European Championship venues would have to monitor the movements of the spectators more closely – also outside the arenas. “We have to look far beyond the stadiums,” said Smallwood when asked about recommendations for London and St. Petersburg.
Almost at the same time, Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer again targeted the football association. “I consider the Uefa’s position to be absolutely irresponsible,” said the CSU politician in Berlin. In view of the pictures of fans celebrating crowded in the stadiums, it is “mapped out that this promotes the infection process”. Seehofer appealed to the Uefa not to shift decisions about the number of visitors “to the local health authorities”. Rather, the association should “clearly explain: We don’t want that, we are reducing the number of viewers.” Commerce should “not outshine the protection against infection for the population.”
Uefa does not feel it has an obligation to change anything and wants to “play out the remaining European Championship games as planned”. The measures are “fully coordinated with the regulations of the local health authorities.” Ultimately, audience numbers would be the responsibility of these authorities. “It cannot be completely ruled out that events can lead to a local increase in the number of cases,” said Daniel Koch, Uefa medical advisor. However, this would not only apply to football games, but to everything that is “now permitted within the framework of the easing measures that have been decided”.
Most recently, health politician Karl Lauterbach (SPD) had made the most serious allegations. “Hundreds of them have certainly been infected and they are now infecting thousands,” tweeted Lauterbach, looking at the round of 16 between England and Germany (2-0) in front of 45,000 fans in London, and predicted: “Uefa is for the death of many people responsible. «For the semi-finals and the final, even more than 60,000 spectators are allowed into the Arena.SID / nd
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