Tottenham’s upcoming clash with Austrian side Wolfsberg could be affected by a ban on British flights into the country.
That’s according to Kleine Zeitung, who explain that WAC are exploring every possibility to ensure that the game goes ahead.
Tottenham are set to travel to Austria for the first round of their Europa League last 32 clash on the 18th February, but there is currently a ‘landing ban’ on flights from England into the country.
That ban only applies until the 7th February, but the existence of new strains of COVID in England means and an extension to is ‘obvious’ at this stage.
Thus, Tottenham would need special dispensation to enter the country; something WAC have applied for, according to their manager Markus Perchthaler, who recently held a joint video conference with Tottenham and UEFA.
If that is not granted, Wolfsberg are ‘obliged’ to find a neutral venue in a country in which both teams are allowed to travel.
At the moment that would be Russia although neither side are particularly keen on the game taking place there.
Another solution would be Tottenham instead flying to nearby Slovenia, where there is no ban, but they would then need to find a solution to the quarantine period imposed on people entering from that country.
Should WAC fail to find a solution, they face losing the tie 0-3 automatically, with UEFA demanding a solution to the dilemma by next Monday.
An official decision on the special permit is expected at the end of the week.
Even if they do find a solution, there is still the matter of the second leg, with the Austrian team needing a special permit for that game and then required to isolate in Austria for ten days afterwards as well.
It’s a complicated situation, to say the least, and one that isn’t going to go away anytime soon either.
