Euro 2020 is set to be pushed back by 12 months to become Euro 2021 as part of UEFA’s proposals to combat the scheduling issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Domestic and European fixture lists will also see sweeping changes made in an effort to get 2019-20 campaigns completed.
Football competitions around the world has been brought to a halt by the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.
Authorities have, in collaboration with health officials, been left with no choice but to implement immediate suspensions across the board.
The Norwegian FA was the first to confirm plans that UEFA’s signature international tournament will become Euro 2021 and kick off on June 11.
Efforts are now being made to ensure that the current season does not become null and void.
UEFA has opened discussions with European football leaders and charged its executive committee with coming up with a plan of action which is acceptable to all concerned.
Part of that process will involve delaying the association’s flagship international event.
A European Championship due to be staged in various cities across the continent was set to get underway on June 12.
That is no longer feasible, meaning that the event will be postponed until 2021.
At domestic level, the intention is to play the regular season through to a finish, with campaigns coming to a close before June 30.
The Champions League final is expected to be pushed back to the end of June 2020, with Europe’s premier club competition yet to complete the round of 16.
International fixtures which have been cancelled in the March break are now set to take place over the summer, with no tournament football to take into account.
The 2021 Nations League Finals, which were supposed to be staged in June 2021, is being pencilled in for the following September.
There are a number of other matters still to be addressed, with European nations intended to be taking in 2022 World Cup qualifiers next summer.
FIFA’s inaugural 24-team Club World Cup is also supposed to see the curtain come up in 2021.
UEFA is, however, doing all it can to resolve as many problems as possible during a testing time for sport as a whole.
Once any initial proposals have been given the green light, then attention can turn towards addressing the outstanding issues, Goal.com reports.
