GOOD MORNING FOOTBALL FANS,
Boris Johnson has offered up Britain’s stadiums for the whole European Championships as the UK’s vaccine roll-out surges ahead of the continent — and he can’t wait to raise a pint to the prospect.
The football tournament’s semi-finals and final are already pencilled in for Wembley in July but temporary teetotaller Mr Johnson said last night: “Any other matches they want hosted, we are certainly on for that!”
It could kick-start a “bonanza” decade of footy, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak set to pump millions into funding the UK and Ireland’s joint pitch to host the 2030 World Cup in tomorrow’s Budget.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the Prime Minister said: “We are very, very keen to bring football home in 2030. I do think it’s the right place.
“It’s the home of football, it’s the right time. It will be an absolutely wonderful thing for the country.”
Meanwhile, Luke Shaw will NOT face any FA action for claiming referee Stuart Attwell refused to give Manchester United a penalty because of the reaction it would cause.
But there is no suggestion of any issues as far as the FA is concerned over what Attwell actually said to United skipper Harry Maguire.
He said: “The ref even said to H, if it’s a pen it’s going to cause a lot of talk after. So I don’t know what happened there.”
Scrambling United backtracked later on Sunday, suggesting that Shaw had misheard Maguire in what appeared a desperate effort to avoid a likely ban.
FA regulations state that comments about officials that “imply bias or attack their integrity” lay a player open to a misconduct charge under Rule E3 (1).
Elsewhere, Chelsea are reportedly facing transfer interest in Tammy Abraham from a number of Premier League clubs.
The Telegraph claims doubts are emerging over the striker’s Stamford Bridge future after he was axed from Sunday’s matchday squad against Manchester United.
And finally, Gareth Bale’s long-awaited return to form is being celebrated as much in Spain as it is at Spurs.
The Welsh superstar rolled back the years as he helped Tottenham batter Burnley 4-0 on Sunday.
The Spanish giants hope it will persuade Tottenham to extend Bale’s stay for the final year of his contract next term.
And the good news for them is the North Londoners will look at taking him on loan again for next season if he continues to impress between now and the summer.
That will have Bernabeu bosses jumping for joy as they are desperate to get the £650,000-a-week Welshman, 31, off their wage bill.