Emotional Rollercoaster For Wales Football Fans
Fans return to terraces for play-offs but it's bad news for Euro 2020 travel
Newport County fans will be cheering their team on from the terraces tonight (May 18) for the first time in more than a year.
The League Two play-off against Forest Green at Rodney Parade has been chosen by the Welsh Government as a pilot event for the safe return of supporters.
The next pilot event will be at the Liberty Stadium for Swansea City's second leg Championship play-off against Barnsley on Saturday (May 22) KO 6.30pm.
The Swans won the first leg 1-0, with an Andre Ayew goal in the 39th minute.
But it's not such good news for those wanting to travel and support Wales in the Euros.
The FAW says Wales fans should heed a Foreign Office warning and not travel to EURO 2020 matches in Azerbaijan and Rome next month.
Both are on the UK Government’s Amber list, though it is no longer illegal to travel.
The following information has been received from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO):
- Whilst today British nationals can travel abroad there are Red, Amber and Green list rules for entering the UK.
- To prevent new COVID variants from entering the UK, British nationals should not travel to amber or red list countries.
- In addition there are also FCDO travel advisory’s in place. Azerbaijan and Italy are Amber and the FCDO Travel Advice advises against all but essential travel based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.
- Whilst the FCDO do not enforce any advice against all but essential or all travel, it can still have a significant impact for British nationals.
- Most standard travel insurance policies will be invalidated for any trips, and most UK tour operators won't send customers to places where we advise against travel.
Whilst it is no longer illegal to travel, the FAW advises fans to make an informed choice about travelling to Baku and Rome for UEFA EURO 2020 considering the current information detailed above, as attending the matches will not be deemed as essential travel.
For those fans who remain determined to travel despite the warnings, the FAW strongly advises that fans check that their travel insurance is still valid and fit for purpose.