Italian health chiefs warned fans travelling from England of attending Saturday’s Euros quarter-final against Ukraine amid ongoing coronavirus travel restrictions.
The health officials urged English fans not to put lives at risk in order to travel to Rome.
The Lazio region’s health boss, Alessio D’Amato, said it would be impossible for any fan travelling from England to attend the match and they should stay away.
Italian authorities also declared strict penalties and possible prosecution will be imposed on England fans breaking quarantine rules.
All arrivals in Italy from the UK have to quarantine for five days and take two coronavirus tests under current health measures.
“I am clear and unequivocal – the English fans will not be able to come to Italy to watch the match at the Olimpico against Ukraine on July 3rd,” Andrea Costa, a junior Italian health minister, said.
“There are five days of quarantine, the rule must be respected. We cannot take risks. If an English fan leaves today, he won’t see the game. Same for those who left yesterday.”
“Fans travelling to Euro 2020 matches are not exempted from Italy’s quarantine rules,” she added.
For its part, Italy’s Interior Ministry declared plans to step up police checks at airports and train stations and road checkpoints in case fans attempt to travel.
The UK has been under the spotlight given rising numbers of new coronavirus cases with the Delta variant.
Many countries have restricted travel from the UK because of the spread of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Travellers from Britain are now required to show proof of their vaccination. For those who have not been vaccinated, they must produce a negative RT PCR test report.
The variant is more transmissible than others and was first identified in India, but it has spread rapidly in the UK.
