England’s international against New Zealand in November has been cancelled due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Holly Percival. The two nations had been due to play at Wembley Stadium on November 12. England are now looking for alternative opponents.
New Zealand have withdrawn from the clash due to “further travel and player availability complications caused by Covid-19”.
In a statement, New Zealand Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell said: “It is with deep regret that we have been forced to cancel our participation in the upcoming match against England at Wembley.
“It is not an action taken lightly, this is a match we all wanted to play, however, as it stands of the last All Whites squad selected for the November 2019 tour, even excluding the New Zealand based players, a significant number of the team would be subject to quarantine or restrictions on their return home.
“This would heavily disrupt their domestic seasons and potentially jeopardise their professional careers.”
Meanwhile The England National Team are already searching for alternative opponents.
The Football Association wants to go ahead with a friendly on the same date to help Southgate prepare for England’s final two UEFA Nations League Group A2 fixtures away to Belgium on November 15 and at home against Iceland three days later.
England wrote on their official Twitter account: “We can confirm New Zealand’s withdrawal from next month’s international friendly. We will announce replacement opposition in due course.”
(C) Control TV 2020.
