Sevilla could be alternative to Bilbao to host Euro 2020

Last week, the Spanish football federation announced that Bilbao's current pandemic situation made it impossible for fans to be allowed into the venue.

The La Cartuja Stadium, which has been touted to replace the San Mamés Stadium, will host the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao on Saturday- REUTERS

The Spanish football federation offered Sevilla as an alternative host city for the European Championship if UEFA ruled out Bilbao as planned.

The federation confirmed local media reports to The Associated Press on Friday that it had put forward Sevilla’s La Cartuja Stadium as an alternative to Bilbao’s San Mamés.

Last week, the federation announced that the current pandemic situation in Bilbao made it impossible for fans to be allowed into the venue, based on the regulations established by health authorities in the northern Basque Country region.

The federation told the AP that it would be up to regional authorities in southern Andalusia to decide whether fans could potentially be allowed into games in Seville.

Currently, there are no fans allowed into league or national team matches anywhere in Spain.

Other hosts for the tournament to be held around Europe between June 11 and July 11 has given assurances to UEFA that spectators will be allowed into stadiums. A UEFA decision on Bilbao is expected soon.

The La Cartuja Stadium is set to host a second Copa del Rey final this month when Barcelona plays Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. It also hosted the delayed 2020 cup final two weeks ago, when Real Sociedad beat Athletic Bilbao. No fans have been allowed to attend either final.

Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium is scheduled to host Spain’s Group E games against Sweden, Poland and Slovakia as well as one round-of-16 game.