EU referendum: German newspaper Bild promises to accept Geoff Hurst's 1966 goal for England if Britain votes Remain

The United Kingdom are voting on their membership in the EU this Thursday with a record 46.5 million people eligible to vote for either Remain or Leave

German daily Bild have promised to accept England won the World Cup in 1966 fairly if Britain votes to remain the European Union

(Bild)

German tabloid Bild has waded into the European Union referendum debate by promising to finally acknowledge that Sir Geoff Hurst’s goal in the 1966 World Cup final did cross the line.

The UK is voting on its membership in the EU this Thursday with a record 46.5 million people eligible to vote in a ballot which has far-reaching consequences across the continent.

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Along with other pledges, including a promise to stop using towels to reserve sun beds abroad and to cease making jokes about the Prince of Wales’s ears, the biggest-selling German newspaper has pulled out all the stops to persuade undecided Brits to remain.

Few moments in football history have sparked such ferocious debate as Hurst’s extra-time goal as England won their first – and only – World Cup 50 years ago at Wembley.

Sport has not been immune from the referendum with Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore giving his backing to the Remain campaign.

He said: "There is an openness about the Premier League which I think it would be completely incongruous if we were to take the opposite position. Ultimately you can't break away, you can't just pull out, you have to get in and negotiate and try and organise and try and influence."

Bild backs Remain

The biggest-selling tabloid in Germany put the story on their front page

(Bild)

One of the final polls before the referendum, published on Wednesday night, handed Remain with a significant lead.

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ComRes found Remain eight points ahead of Leave in contrast to TNS and Opinium surveys released earlier which showed narrow Leave leads. The Electoral Commission expects the final results of the night to come through at 7am on Thursday morning.