In an unprecedented move impacting the global soccer landscape, UEFA has officially announced the postponement of Euro 2020 until 2021. This decision, reached on Tuesday after an emergency video conference, comes as the world grapples with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The tournament, originally scheduled to be held across Europe in celebration of UEFA’s 60th anniversary, will now take place from June 11 to July 11, 2021.
The announcement follows a crucial meeting involving all 55 UEFA member national associations, along with representatives from clubs and leagues. During this conference, UEFA also confirmed the suspension of all UEFA competitions and matches, including friendlies, for both club and national teams, men’s and women’s, until further notice. This widespread suspension includes the crucial playoff matches that were intended to finalize the Euro 2020 lineup.
This postponement provides a window for European domestic leagues, which have been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, to potentially complete their seasons. UEFA has established a working group, including league and club representatives, to explore calendar solutions that would facilitate the completion of the current season and address other consequences arising from Tuesday’s decisions.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “We are at the helm of a sport that vast numbers of people live and breathe that has been laid low by this invisible and fast-moving opponent.” He further highlighted the need for unity and responsibility within the football community during this crisis, calling it “the biggest crisis that football faced in history.” In an interview with The Associated Press, Ceferin underscored the impossibility of continuing football activities amidst the widespread impact of the virus across Europe.
The sixteen playoff matches, initially slated for March 26 and 31 to determine the final participating nations for Euro 2020, are now tentatively rescheduled for the international window at the beginning of June, pending a review of the evolving situation.
The European Championship is a significant financial undertaking for UEFA, generating approximately €2 billion from sponsors and broadcasters. These entities, like many businesses globally, are expected to feel the broader economic repercussions of the pandemic. Ceferin acknowledged the economic challenges ahead, both directly related to the Euro postponement and affecting the wider economy. However, he expressed confidence in overcoming these challenges through unity and assessment of potential damages, projecting a stronger future for football.
The global sporting calendar has been significantly disrupted, with numerous high-profile events cancelled or suspended. The postponement of Soccer Euro 2020 adds to this disruption, and the fate of the Tokyo Olympics remains uncertain. All of Europe’s top-tier domestic soccer leagues, including those in England, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany, are currently suspended, alongside major club competitions like the Champions League and Europa League, as well as World Cup qualifiers.
UEFA has stated its intention to conclude all domestic and European club competitions by June 30, 2020, at the latest, if conditions allow. Sources within ESPN have reported that Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have expressed “satisfaction and relief” regarding the Euro 2020 postponement, appreciating UEFA’s understanding of the clubs’ current circumstances. Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish FA, echoed UEFA’s hope for completing league seasons by late June.
The English and French football associations, along with Andrea Agnelli, chairman of the European Club Association and president of Juventus, have also voiced their support for the decision to postpone soccer Euro 2020. Concurrently, the Copa America, originally scheduled for 2020, has also been postponed until 2021 by CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation.
The parallel postponements of both Euro 2020 and Copa America provide increased flexibility for domestic competitions worldwide to conclude once the pandemic subsides. Leagues across Europe had been advocating for prioritizing the completion of domestic seasons, as clubs faced potential revenue losses from ticket sales and match-day income while still obligated to pay player salaries. Ceferin acknowledged the range of options UEFA presented to ensure the safe completion of competitions, praising the collaborative response from European football stakeholders.
While domestic leagues are likely to welcome the postponement news, the international football calendar for 2021 is now considerably congested. Moving Euro 2020 to June and July of 2021 encroaches upon a slot previously reserved by FIFA for its expanded Club World Cup, which was intended to feature eight European clubs. The women’s European Championship, scheduled to be held in England in the summer of 2021, and FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup in China, planned for June 17-July 4, further complicate the calendar.
Ceferin mentioned discussions with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, indicating the likely postponement of the Club World Cup in 2021 due to the Euro rescheduling. He also suggested that the women’s Euro might be moved to 2022 to avoid calendar conflicts with the men’s Euro, emphasizing the importance of not “cannibalizing” the women’s tournament.
The planned host cities for Euro 2020, a unique pan-European tournament, remain unchanged. Glasgow, Dublin, Bilbao, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Munich, Rome, St Petersburg, Bucharest, Budapest, and Baku are still slated to host matches, with the final set for London’s Wembley Stadium. Ceferin affirmed the intention to maintain the same venues, cities, and stadiums, while also acknowledging contingency plans for potentially reducing the number of host venues if necessary.
Following UEFA’s announcement, FIFA President Infantino released a statement indicating a scheduled conference call to discuss the measures taken by UEFA and determine subsequent steps for global soccer.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this report.
