England to lose Euro 2016 qualification if it leaves EU

(Baonghean.vn) - England's hopes of winning the Euro 2016 championship were dashed last night when it was reported that Uefa officials from France and Germany were ready to submit a petition to "suspend" the England team if the people of this country voted to leave the European Union on June 23.

England's Harry Kane breaks through the German defence during a recent international friendly. Photo: ACTION IMAGES.

The move would also affect Wales and Northern Ireland if they progress from the group stage and leave the three teams in legal limbo just days before the round of 16 kicks off on 25 June.

Jurgen Loos, a former Germany midfielder, supports the Franco-German proposal: “Solidarity is a core principle in Europe, and this is true in football, not just in business or politics. If Britain leaves the EU, then we have to be clear: ‘out’ means ‘out’.”

Draft legal documents seen by the Telegraph and due to be submitted today also outline measures to deal with British extremists, with their Euro 2016 tickets and EU passports automatically invalidated when the UK-EU border closes at midnight on 24 June in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Yuro Baloni, Uefa's representative at Nyon, Switzerland, declined to comment before the formal application was submitted, but sources confirmed the plan had gained momentum following England's stunning 3-2 win over Germany in Berlin last week.

The Franco-German proposals have sparked anger from pro-Brexit groups such as Leave Go, which has now absorbed smaller groups to become the organisation likely to lead the Electoral Commission's Brexit campaign in the coming days.

“This is another shameless attempt to manipulate the referendum. And it is now clear that voting to leave the EU on 23 June is the only way to ensure that Britain wins the 2018 World Cup,” the group said.

Football has shown its ability to sway votes in England in the past: the team's shock quarter-final defeat to West Germany at the 1970 World Cup was widely blamed for Harold Wilson's equally shocking defeat in the general election just four days later.

The pro-remain group Britain is stronger and better in Europe, which said Uefa’s plan was a foreshadowing of the chaos Britain would face if it left the EU, adding that voters had just been given another reason to “think carefully” before walking through the exit door.

(Note: The above content is just an April Fool's Day joke published in the Telegraph. Wishing readers a happy April Fool's Day.)

Phu Binh

(According to Telegraph)