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.

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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