UPDATE: How can England fans in Italy get tickets for the Euro quarter final in Rome?

Fans based in Italy were told that they’d be first in line for the tickets, as Covid-19 restrictions prevented supporters in the UK from travelling to Rome for England’s only game of the tournament away from Wembley.

Italy currently requires all arrivals from the UK to undergo a five-day quarantine amid concern about the spread of the Delta variant. Italian and UK authorities have stressed that there will be “no exceptions” made to the rules for fans hoping to travel, including those who’ve already got tickets.

The FA had stated on Tuesday night that, because of the travel restrictions, it now aims to “facilitate as many ticket sales to English residents in Italy as possible”.

Amid widespread confusion and a lack of official information on Wednesday, dozens of readers in Italy contacted The Local asking where they could get tickets.

EXPLAINED: How has Italy changed its rules on travel from the UK? 

As of Wednesday night, tickets were made available for general sale via the Uefa ticket portal as usual.

There did not appear to be any system which gave priority to Italy’s British residents when purchasing tickets, as the FA had suggested would be the case.

Before the tickets were released, readers had reported that tickets were being offered for inflated prices on social media, or for as much as €1,000 via so-called “concierge” websites.

There was also confusion after reports that the British Embassy would be helping residents to get hold of them.

“I have been searching all morning for information on England tickets,” said reader Dave in Tuscany on Wednesday. “I contacted the consulate in Milan and spoke to one of the consular staff who was somewhat bemused by my question.”

The FA had stated that it was “working with Uefa and the British embassy in Italy” to facilitate ticket sales.

However, the British Embassy in Rome confirmed to The Local on Wednesday that it “is not selling or distributing tickets for the match on Saturday in Rome”.

Tickets returned to UEFA by the FA. Available now for those registered as England fans on the UEFA portal: https://t.co/aSzEEZcBta

— Dan Wareing (@dan_wareing__c) June 30, 2021

READ ALSO: ‘No exceptions’: Italy and UK warn England fans against travel to Rome for Euro quarter final

Anyone who hopes to grab tickets may have to move quickly, though.

There are only 2,560 tickets expected to be made available – the FA’s allocation of 16 percent of the permitted capacity of 16,000 at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

At the time of writing, the UEFA website still states that tickets for the match need to be registered by 9pm on Thursday, July 1st.