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Arsenal forced to pay Benfica £44,000 compensation after their Europa League tie was moved to Rome because UK Government put Portugal on 'red list' of high-risk Covid countries - and health experts warn 'DON'T SWAP SHIRTS'

Arsenal will be forced to pay £44,000 to Benfica after the Portuguese club was required to move their Europa League tie to Italy as result of UK government travel restrictions.

The Round of 32 match was scheduled to take place at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, but travel restrictions between Portugal and the UK meant the game has had to be moved.

Since the restrictions have been imposed by the UK government, the Gunners will have to compensate the Portuguese club for rearranging the game.

Arsenal will face a u00a344,000 bill for their Europe League tie moving from Lisbon to Spain

Earlier this month, the UK placed Portugal on the 'red list' of high-risk Covid countries, because of concerns about the prevalence of the Brazilian variant of coronavirus.