England vs Italy chaos: Thousands of FURIOUS fans left in the lurch by the FA’s travel operator
EXCLUSIVE: Angry England fans STRANDED after tour operator canceled their trip to Naples for Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy at the last minute… with violence in the city ahead of Napoli’s clash with Frankfurt as guilty of the decision
- England kick off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign against Italy on Thursday
- Itinerant fans of the Three Lions have been left in the lurch a few days before the game
- Around 2,500 England fans are believed to have been disappointed.
Angry England fans have been left stranded after the FA’s official travel partner canceled their trip to Naples just days before Gareth Southgate’s side were due to face Italy in a replay of the EURO 2020 final.
Some 2,500 English fans were expected to travel to face Italy in their Euro qualifier on Thursday night in a city already on high alert after shocking scenes last week of Eintracht Frankfurt fans clashing with the police, and many will now miss the opportunity.
Sportsworld travel company emailed supporters on Friday night to confirm that all arrangements had been scrapped.
Sportsworld blamed the violence in Naples as a factor in the decision, although the Italian authorities’ uncertainty about return flights is understood to have been the main reason for the chaos.
“It is our policy to never cancel any trip, whatever the reason, but unfortunately we have no choice at this late stage,” supporters were told in an email seen by The Mail on Sunday.
Thousands of angry English fans have been stranded by the FA’s official travel partner, which canceled its trip to Naples just days before Gareth Southgate’s side were due to take on Italy.
The tour operator blamed the chaos in Naples last week for the decision, after hundreds of supporters of Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt clashed before their Champions League game.
“We have been planning this trip for months, but the events in Naples this week have certainly impacted the situation.”
‘We understand that you may be angry and disappointed by this news. We are also really disappointed with the outcome and apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.
England fans called the decision a “disgrace” and urged the FA to sack Sportsworld as official travel partner as they now have to make their own last-minute travel arrangements.
Sportsworld emailed supporters on Friday afternoon to say they were unable to confirm a return flight time from Naples or provide a clear transportation plan for the day and asked if they would like them to find alternative arrangements or cancel the trip. .
Despite almost 70 per cent of the responses urging Sportsworld to continue seeking travel arrangements, the company sent another email shortly after 8:00 pm to confirm that the trip had been cancelled.
Sportsworld told fans they will refund the full cost of the booked trip, in excess of £350, plus an additional £41 per person, believed to be the cost of the match ticket.
Police cars and other vehicles were set on fire, with broken windows and down the street.
However, some England fans are still out of pocket. Alan Houghton told The Mail on Sunday that he was “upset and frustrated” and that he will now not travel. He has had to cancel a £60 hotel room at Gatwick airport booked separately for the night before the flight to Naples with no hope of a refund.
Houghton had originally booked trips with a different company called Sports Options only to have the plans canceled three weeks ago because Italian authorities were unable to make a decision on return flights.
Sportsworld did not respond to a request for comment on why it took them so long to make their decision.
“Canceling the trip for the Italy-England game in Naples with only five days notice, what a shame,” one irate fan said on Twitter. “I will not be using your company again and the FA should withdraw their official travel partner status.”