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Berlin – England beat the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the European Championship, but they may still have to hand over the victory. Because of Brexit, England’s participation in the European Championship may be illegal.
On Wednesday evening, the England football team was still in a frenzy after reaching the final, but the joy was short-lived. Because of Brexit, England is effectively no longer part of the European Union for four years. That means England may not be allowed to take part in the European Championship at all.
“It’s a bit of a carelessness that we often see among the English,” says sports lawyer Frederic Knepnagel. “The United Kingdom, of which England is a member, left the European Union on January 31, 2020, but failed to notify UEFA. That mistake is likely to cost them dearly now.
“A country that is not part of Europe can never become European champions, of course. That went without warning. It is incomprehensible that the FA thinks they can get away with this,” said Kneppnagel.
UEFA officials are currently investigating the matter. If England’s participation is found to be illegal, the Netherlands will still qualify for the European Championship final.
