EU chief Donald Tusk said British voters should not give up on stopping Brexit.
The outgoing president of the European Council said quitting Europe would turn Britain into a "second-rate player", as he compared the battle between Leave and Remain supporters to a football match.
READ MORE: Donald Tusk's letter confirming Brexit deal
Speaking at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, said things "become irreversible only when people start to think so".
He said: "So the only words that come to my mind today are simply: Don’t give up. In this match, we are already in extra time, perhaps it will even go to penalties?”
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Mr Tusk also said Brexit was driven by a “longing for the Empire” and a desire to “make the UK global again” but it would have “exactly the opposite” effect.
Mr Tusk has consistently supported a reversal of the UK's decision to exit the EU, and has spoken of his regret over the result of the 2016 referendum.
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