Euro 2016: England Supporters Band allowed to attend after Uefa approves FA request amid tight security
It was claimed the FA failed to make an official request to European football's governing body
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Your support makes all the difference.England supporters heading out to the Euro 2016 Championship will either be delighted or distraught at the news that the official Supporters Band will be able to attend matches at the tournament after the Football Association had its request approved by Uefa.
A report that appeared in The Telegraph on Wednesday night claimed that the FA had failed to make an official request to Uefa in order to have the band’s attendance approved due to heightened security measures after last November’s terror attacks in Paris.
However, The Independent has been informed by the FA that this is not the case, and after making a request to the European governing body – as they do for every match the band travels to – their attendance has been approved.
An FA spokesperson said: “As standard protocol, The FA always request for the England Supporters Travel Club band to be granted permission to enter host stadiums with their instruments. During venue visits for UEFA EURO 2016, The FA were advised that musical instruments would not be permitted in all stadiums.
“The FA had not been advised of any change to this regulation but we understand that UEFA are now looking into our original request.”
The Independent also contacted Uefa for clarification on the request, to which they confirmed that it had been submitted and the band would be allowed in to matches.
It’s not the first time that the England Supporters Band have found themselves in the headlines alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere. At Euro 2012, the band was not permitted to play inside the stadiums based in Ukraine after the instruments were deemed dangerous weapons, with Uefa warning football associations that the same could occur at this year’s event.
There were also calls in the lead up to the 2014 World Cup for the band to end their constant stream of Rule Britannia and The Great Escape because they had grown stale and irritating, although founding member John Hemmingham hit back at “armchair fans” who were criticising them for simply trying to lift the atmosphere at international matches that can often fall flat.
The Welsh FA has already confirmed their band’s attendance at Euro 2016, with The Barry Horns expected to be in the stands in Marseille when the two rivals meet.
Having risen to prominence at Euro 1996, the band could be blamed for being England's source of bad luck, with the Three Lions failing to progress beyond the quarter-finals of any competition since hosting the tournament 20 years ago.
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