Euro 2020 final was ‘superspreader event’ with 3,400 Covid cases linked to match

More than 9,000 cases were linked to matches monitored for the mass events pilot (Picture: Reuters)

England’s run up to the Euro 2020 final caused a ‘significant risk to public health across the UK’, a study has found.

Data from NHS Test and Trace shows more than 9,000 Covid cases were linked to matches monitored for the Government’s mass events test scheme.

The final against Italy at Wembley Stadium has been branded a ‘superspreader event’, as 2,295 people were likely to have been infectious when they attended.

A further 3,404 people potentially caught coronavirus during the showdown on July 11, according to Public Health England (PHE).

Analysis of the third and final stage of the Government’s mass events test pilots found more than 85% of cases linked to 49 days of outdoor sport, entertainment and music came from the eight Euro matches hosted at Wembley.

This is especially the case for the semi-final and final, which each saw more than 60,000 fans inside the stadium.

Other than their quarter-final against Ukraine in Rome, England played all of their six Euro 2020 matches at Wembley.

PHE figures monitored cases linked to matches at Wembley, but others could be connected to street parties in central London (Picture: Zuma Press/PA)

PHE’s report concluded that England’s progress to the final had ‘generated a significant risk to public health across the UK even when England played overseas’.

It added: ‘This risk arose not just from individuals attending the event itself, but included activities undertaken during travel and associated social activities,” they added.

‘For the final and semi-final games at Wembley, risk mitigation measures in place were less effective in controlling COVID transmission than was the case for other mass spectator sports events.’

NHS Test and Trace data also showed 585 infections were recorded at the time of the British Grand Prix.

The event hosted the largest crowd in the UK in over 18 months, with more than 350,000 people attending in the space of three days.

England’s final against Italy ended in heartbreak as the Three Lions lost on penalties (Picture: PA)

Of those cases, it is thought 343 people were likely to have already been infectious at the time of the competition.

A total of 881 cases were linked to the Wimbledon Championships, which hosted around 300,000 people over two weeks.

Of those, 299 were likely to have already been infectious at the time while the rest would have caught it when they attended.

Despite the spike in cases after the football, the Government has said data gathered from the pilot scheme shows large-scale sporting events can go ahead safely with full crowds.

In a joint statement, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Public Health England said England’s Euro 2020 matches were ‘not considered typical of standard sporting events and should not be used as comparators’.

The semi-final and final each hosted more than 60,000 people at Wembley Stadium (Picture: PA)

PHE deputy medical director Jenifer Smith said: ‘Euro 2020 was a unique occasion and it is unlikely we would see a similar impact on Covid-19 cases from future events.

‘However, the data does show how easily the virus can spread when there is close contact and this should be a warning to us all as we try and return to a cautious normality once again.’

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: ‘We’ve shown that we can reintroduce mass sports and cultural events safely but it is important that people remain cautious when mixing in very crowded settings.

‘So that we can keep the football season, theatres, and gigs safe with full crowds this winter, I urge sport, music, and culture fans to get the vaccine as this is the safest way we can get big events firing on all cylinders once more.’

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