Euro 2020: More than 60,000 fans allowed in Wembley for semi-finals and final

The World Health Organisation is "concerned" about lockdown restrictions easing in countries hosting Euro 2020 games, with fears around the number of fans allowed into stadiums.

The comments from an official came after it was announced that the number of fans permitted to attend the semi-finals and final of the competition at Wembley has been increased to 60,000.

They will be the largest crowds at UK sporting events in more than 15 months.

It is not clear exactly how many fans will be let through the turnstiles, but the culture department (DCMS) said attendance would be increased to "75% capacity", which is 67,500.

WHO official Robb Butler told Sky News: "WHO is concerned about easing of restrictions in some of the host countries."

He added: "A few of the stadiums hosting the tournament are now increasing the number of spectators allowed in the stadium to watch a game. In a few of the host cities, COVID-19 cases are already on the rise in the area where matches will be held.

"Learning from experience, we must act fast on signals showing increasing cases - expanding testing and sequencing; stepping up contact tracing; and building very high vaccine uptake fast among those vulnerable and most at risk."

All ticket holders for the matches on 6, 7 and 11 July must be able to show a negative COVID-19 test or proof of full vaccination - 14 days before each fixture.

Those registered with a GP in England will be able to display their proof of two jabs via the NHS App, or through a printout for people from Scotland or Wales.

A negative lateral flow test can be shown via email, a text message or the NHS App. Further details - including on ticket sales - will be given by UEFA in due course, DCMS said.

Professor Tim Spector, co-founder of the Zoe symptom-tracker app and an epidemiologist, told Sky News it "doesn't make a lot of sense" to allow 60,000 fans at Wembley - but ban travel to red list countries.

"We've got this strange travel policy where people can't go abroad, but we can have 60,000 people at Wembley," he said.

"It's okay if you're happy to have a few extra cases of COVID, but I think people need to be honest about the risk.

"Because the Delta (Indian) variant is more transmissible, it's really hard to avoid getting it in big crowds, even if you've been vaccinated."

The DCMS said other events in the summer sporting calendar, including Wimbledon, the rugby league Challenge Cup Final and men's international cricket involving England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will "also go ahead with greater capacities".

It is part of the government's Events Research Programme (ERP) as the UK gradually emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

Up to 20 indoor and outdoor events are also being planned that will "allow audience numbers to return close to full capacity", DCMS said.

It will "continue to trial the use of COVID status certification" and the pilots "will involve the ramping up of trialling the use of the NHS App and lateral flow testing, as proof of a person's COVID-status".

Trials of the NHS App "will be run to assess whether it can also be used to display a user's natural immunity status".

There have been reports suggesting the Euro 2020 final could be moved to Budapest, Hungary, following controversy over potentially allowing 2,500 international VIPs to attend without having to quarantine when arriving in the UK.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has said Rome could be an alternative venue.

But UEFA said there are "no plans to change the venue" for the semi-finals and final.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said "rigorous and tight public health measures remain in place" while allowing "more fans to see the action live".

He added: "The finals promise to be an unforgettable moment in our national recovery from the pandemic."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the matches will "show that when it comes to great sporting events, London simply cannot be beaten".