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Every Euro 2020 match at Wembley will be given an exemption from lockdown rules with senior figures in Government and sport close to agreeing up to 45,000 fans in the knock-out stages, even if Prime Minister Boris Johnson delays Freedom Day.

Sportsmail confirmed on Thursday that Euro 2020 knock out games would not be subject to the same restrictions as other events, guaranteeing a capacity of 22,500 throughout the tournament.

Now the Telegraph has reported that Wembley looks set to host 45,000 fans from the Round of 16 onwards, with the first game in London on June 26. 

Rumours of a possible delay to the final stage of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, which would see social distancing restrictions lifted, have raised questions about what will happen at sports events in the coming weeks.

Sports are desperate to increase capacities above the current limit of 10,000 spectators, or 25 per cent of stadium capacities at smaller venues with major events, including Wimbledon, which is just weeks away.

To date, only those fixtures that have been part of the government's Events Research Programme have been allowed more than 10,000 fans. And today, 18,000 spectators have attended the second test at Edgbaston between England and New Zealand in the first pilot to remove social distancing.

For Euro 2020, the Football Association was required to give UEFA a commitment that at least 22,500 fans will attend each of the eight games hosted in London.

However, if Freedom Day on June 21 is pushed back it is expected that the country will remain bound by the existing restrictions, with the limits on crowd numbers still in place.

All eight Euro 2020 games at Wembley will be played in front of a minimum of 22,500 fans

Unmasked cricket fans stand in Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham at another 'pilot event' allowed by the Government. This one is trialling the effectiveness of testing and crowd control

A general view of the Hollies stand as the spectators fill the stand during day one of the second Test Match between England and New Zealand at Edgbaston

The government will not row back on its commitment to UEFA and the round of 16 matches on June 26 and 29, semi-finals on July 6 and 7 and final on July 11, will all be allowed to go ahead with at least 22,500 spectators.

But, according to the Telegraph, ministers are prepared to grant Wembley permission to increase attendances even further, up to 45,000 for the round of 16, semi-finals and final.

If England win group D and Germany finish second in Group F, the two nations will meet at Wembley on Tuesday June 29 with the possibility of a half full stadium.

The first three matches at Wembley, in Group D, when England play Croatia on June 13, Scotland on June 18 and the Czech Republic on June 22, have been designated test events and are allowed 22,500 fans, who will trial covid certification measures.

Fully vaccinated fans will be allowed to use the NHS app to gain entry in the first time that vaccine passports have been used at a major UK sporting event - everyone else will have to take a test to enter to prove they are Covid-free. 

It is believed similar measures will be used to ensure the events are safe in the later rounds, too. 

England fans will have a numerical advantage when Scotland visit Wembley in Euro 2020

An announcement on Freedom Day is due on Monday, but there is a growing sense that restrictions may stay in place, due to concerns over the spread of the Indian variant of coronavirus. 

Sports governing bodies held crunch talks with government officials today to push the case for covid certification to save the first few weeks of Britain's Great Summer of Sport.

Retaining existing limits on attendance would directly impact Wimbledon, which is currently restricted to a capacity of 10,000 fans a day compared to a usual attendance of 40,000, and constrain capacities at Twenty20 and ODI cricket internationals against Sri Lanka.

There has been huge interest in the Wimbledon after last year's event was cancelled

18,000 AT EDGBASTON FOR TEST 

Nearly 20,000 unmasked cricket fans have piled into Edgbaston in Birmingham today to watch the England vs New Zealand Test, despite Cabinet ministers threatening to extend lockdown into July as coronavirus surges across England for a third time.

Though Downing Street is making plans to keep severe social distancing restrictions in place after June 21, it has allowed the stadium to operate at 70 per cent capacity - meaning 18,000 spectators are currently watching the action without masks in scenes reminiscent of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.

All fans were required to present a negative lateral flow test ahead of the Test match, join a 'human snake' to make the 20-minute walk to the stadium from Birmingham city centre to avoid public transport, and use an app to present their tickets as well as for ordering food and drink in the grounds.

Fans had to undergo lateral flow tests to prove they were Covid-free to gain entry to the ground, but these supporters also dressed as hand sanitisers just to be sure

Stadium operators also laid on extra buses on busy routes to avoid overcrowding by using postcode analysis of spectators' home addresses. However, fans are not required to wear masks when seated.

All fans had to conduct lateral flow tests. Edgbaston confirmed that spectators had to book their home test kits via the gov.uk website, and then conduct and record the negative test within 24 hours of the match.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is understood to be considering implementing a so-called 'mix and match' unlocking on June 21, with face coverings, work-from-home guidance and the rule of six all likely to remain mandatory into July but the 30 guest cap on weddings to finally be dropped. 

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Sportsmail reported on Wednesday that the All-England Club could double its capacity for this year's tournament if covid certification is allowed. It is believed the club needs a decision within the next two days to make the arrangements for the event that commences on June 28.

Beyond the direct impact of a delay, plans for other huge events would also be plunged into uncertainty with Twenty20 and ODI cricket matches scheduled against Pakistan early next month, and The Open Golf, Rugby League Challenge Cup Final and British Grand Prix at Silverstone all due to take place in mid-July.

Many events are anxious to finalise numbers, not only to maximise attendance where possible, but also to ensure safe management of socially-distanced crowds, where necessary. 

Fans returned to Edgbaston to watch England take on New Zealand in the second test

18,000 fans were at Edgbaston, as well as Covid tests, they could order food from their seats

The meeting between sport and government came on the day that 18,000 fans returned to Edgbaston for the first day of the second test against New Zealand as part of the latest pilot event. 

At 70 per cent capacity, it is the first time crowds have been allowed to break social distancing limits at a sports event, since March last year. The safety of the spectators is being secured by requiring all attendees to provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test for Covid on arrival.

In addition, Edgbaston has developed an app, which allows fans to order food and drink from their seats and monitor hotspot areas of crowds, in order to avoid them when collecting their victuals or going to the toilet. 

Sport has been clear that social distancing is not a viable option to support the return of fans in large numbers and the current phase of events are designed to test much greater capacities with additional safeguards.

As well as the Euro 2020 group matches, the events include 12,000 spectators attending Royal Ascot each day.