In a landmark decision that reverberates across the global sporting landscape, UEFA has officially announced the postponement of Euro 2020 until 2021. This decisive action, confirmed on Tuesday, comes as a direct response to the escalating coronavirus pandemic that has brought much of the world to a standstill. The decision was reached after an emergency video conference convened by UEFA with its 55 member national associations, alongside representatives from leading clubs and leagues, highlighting the unified front in the face of unprecedented global challenges.
The highly anticipated 24-team European Championship, originally scheduled to be held across 12 different European cities to commemorate UEFA’s 60th anniversary, will now take place from June 11 to July 11 in 2021. This postponement reflects the extraordinary circumstances presented by the COVID-19 outbreak and the paramount importance of prioritizing public health and safety. Alongside the flagship tournament’s delay, UEFA also declared the suspension of all UEFA competitions and matches, encompassing both club and national team fixtures for men and women, until further notice. This comprehensive suspension includes all friendly matches and crucial playoff games, underscoring the severity of the situation and the widespread impact on the footballing calendar.
This sweeping decision opens a window of opportunity for European domestic leagues, many of which have been suspended due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, to potentially complete their currently disrupted seasons. UEFA has established a dedicated working group, composed of representatives from leagues and clubs, tasked with exploring viable calendar solutions. This group will meticulously examine options to facilitate the completion of the domestic season schedules and address any consequential issues arising from Tuesday’s decisions. The collaborative approach emphasizes a unified effort to navigate the complexities and minimize disruption within the football ecosystem.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin articulated the gravity of the situation in a statement, acknowledging the profound impact of the “invisible and fast-moving opponent” on the sport. He emphasized the football community’s responsibility to demonstrate “unity, solidarity and altruism” during these challenging times. Speaking to The Associated Press, Ceferin described the pandemic as “the biggest crisis that football faced in history,” highlighting the virus’s devastating impact across Europe, rendering normal life and football competitions “quite impossible.” The urgency and necessity of halting competitions were underscored by the escalating health crisis.
A significant aspect affected by the postponement is the sixteen playoff matches, initially scheduled for March 26 and 31, intended to finalize the nations participating in the tournament. These crucial matches will now be rescheduled to the international window at the beginning of June, contingent on a reassessment of the prevailing circumstances and the evolving health situation. This adjustment ensures that the qualification process remains fair and is completed when conditions allow.
The European Championship is a substantial financial undertaking for UEFA, generating approximately €2 billion in revenue from sponsorships and broadcasting rights. These revenue streams are inevitably intertwined with the broader economic repercussions of the virus, which is causing widespread disruption and economic uncertainty across Europe and globally. Ceferin acknowledged the potential economic fallout, telling AP, “The economic situation in Europe and in the world will harm us as well.” He stressed that the immediate priority is unity and decisive action, with a focus on assessing and mitigating potential damages in the future. Despite the challenges, Ceferin expressed confidence in the resilience of the football community, stating, “I’m sure that we all together will finish this and come. We will come out stronger than ever.”
The global sporting calendar has been significantly disrupted, with numerous high-profile events either canceled or postponed. The fate of the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled for later in the year, remains uncertain, highlighting the pervasive impact of the pandemic on the entire sports industry. All of Europe’s top-tier domestic soccer leagues, including the leagues in England, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany, are currently suspended. Furthermore, the prestigious Champions League, Europa League, and World Cup qualifying matches have also been put on hold, reflecting a comprehensive shutdown of major football competitions.
UEFA communicated in a subsequent statement its intention to conclude all domestic and European club competitions by June 30, 2020, at the latest. This ambitious timeline underscores the determination to salvage the current season, if conditions permit. Sources within ESPN revealed that prominent Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid welcomed the decision to postpone Euro 2020, expressing “satisfaction and relief” and appreciating UEFA’s understanding of the clubs’ perspectives. Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish FA, echoed UEFA’s aspiration to complete the league seasons by late June, indicating a collective will to resume domestic football.
The English and French football associations swiftly voiced their support for the postponement, as did Andrea Agnelli, chairman of the European Club Association and president of Juventus. This widespread endorsement from key stakeholders across European football highlights the consensus and unified approach in addressing the crisis. Adding to the wave of postponements, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) announced the postponement of this year’s Copa America until 2021, mirroring the Euro 2020 decision and further reshaping the international football calendar.
The concurrent postponement of both Euro 2020 and Copa America for a year provides valuable flexibility for domestic competitions worldwide. These leagues, currently in various states of suspension, now have a clearer pathway to potentially conclude their seasons once the pandemic subsides and conditions improve. European leagues had strongly advocated for UEFA to prioritize the completion of domestic competitions, driven by concerns among clubs about substantial financial losses from ticket sales and match-day revenues, while still obligated to pay player salaries.
Ceferin affirmed that UEFA presented a range of options to ensure the safe completion of the current season’s competitions. He lauded the collaborative response from European football stakeholders, emphasizing the collective commitment to finding solutions. While domestic leagues are expected to welcome the postponement news, the international football calendar for 2021 is already becoming densely packed.
Moving Euro 2020 to June 11-July 11, 2021, encroaches upon a slot initially reserved by FIFA for its newly expanded Club World Cup, which was slated to feature eight European clubs. This scheduling conflict raises questions about the feasibility of the Club World Cup in its planned format for 2021, particularly given existing tensions between FIFA and UEFA regarding the competition’s concept and format. Furthermore, the Women’s European Championship is scheduled to be held in England during the summer, and FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup in China was tentatively planned for June 17-July 4.
Ceferin disclosed that he had communicated with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, informing him of the likely Euro 2020 postponement to 2021. He expressed his opinion that the Club World Cup in 2021 is no longer viable given the calendar congestion. Ceferin also indicated that it is “most likely” that the Women’s Euro will be moved to 2022 to avoid calendar clashes and ensure each tournament receives the prominence it deserves. “I don’t think that we should cannibalize the women’s Euro with the men’s Euro just one month before,” Ceferin stated, emphasizing the importance of protecting and promoting women’s football.
The planned host cities for Euro 2020, a unique pan-European tournament, included Glasgow, Dublin, Bilbao, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Munich, Rome, St Petersburg, Bucharest, Budapest, and Baku, with the final climax set for London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. Ceferin confirmed the intention to maintain the original host cities and venues for the rescheduled tournament. “The plan is to have the same venues, the same cities, the same stadiums,” Ceferin told AP, while acknowledging contingency plans to potentially reduce the number of venues if necessary due to unforeseen complications.
Following UEFA’s announcement, FIFA President Infantino issued a statement indicating he has scheduled a conference call to address the measures taken by UEFA and discuss the next steps on a global scale. This signifies the global football governing body’s engagement in coordinating responses to the pandemic’s widespread impact on football.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this report.
