LONDON: The UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has refuted a report that the government had offered to host the entirety of the European Championship finals in June and July.

The Sunday Times said Britain had indicated it could host the tournament, which is due to be held across Europe, because its fast coronavirus vaccine roll-out means fans are likely to be back in stadiums more quickly than in other countries.

At the moment Wembley and Glasgow are set to host 11 games with the semi-finals and final all at the national stadium.

Hancock, asked about the report on Sky News, said: “I haven’t seen anything on that, I understand that that’s not right.”

However speculation is continuing about what the European federation will decide at the end of April which is the last possible time in can set out its staging plans for the finals which are scheduled to be held in 12 cities across Europe.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to set out a timeline tomorrow for the UK’s emergence from Covid-19 restrictions.

The newspaper claimed that Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden “has signalled to UEFA that progress on vaccinations means the UK will have crowds back in stadiums before most of Europe . . . Government sources said if they are asked to take on more games they would respond positively.”

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