The government is considering creating an extra Bank Holiday if England win The Euros, it is being reported.
On Wednesday night, the Three Lions beat Denmark 2-1 – landing them a place in the final on Sunday.
That means that this weekend, Gareth Southgate’s team will face Italy in a penultimate head-to-head that will ultimately decide the victor of the major football competition.
It will be England’s first chance to win a major tournament in 55 years.
The last time England got this far in a tournament was the World Cup in 1966, hence the excitement across the country that is building ahead of the weekend’s final.
The government has already extended pub opening times, relaxing licensing laws to allow pubs to stay open until 11.15pm in case of penalties and extra time.
Now it’s being reported that they are considering adding an extra Bank Holiday as a means of celebration if England is victorious.
POLITICO has reported that ministers and senior government officials were discussing ways to celebrate and that a new Bank Holiday was amongst the suggestions.
A petition has also been started online, garnering over 30,000 signatures at the time of writing.
Titled “Give the UK a Bank Holiday on Monday July 12th if England win Euro 2020,” it is hosted on the official parliament petition website.
The description reads: “England may be playing a European Championship Final at 8pm on Sunday 11th July. It would be beneficial and sensible to give the country the day off the next day if England win, in the form of an extra Bank Holiday Monday.”
Having reached over 10,000 signatures, it will have to be discussed by Parliament and receive a response in the coming days.
There is also some speculation about whether Gareth Southgate and his team players, like Raheem Sterling, are also in line for knighthoods.
Logistically, the Bank Holiday might be difficult to arrange at the last minute – but it would certainly be a great thing to lift the country’s spirits.
