UEFA Euro Championship that was scheduled to take place in 2020 was moved until next year because of the influence of coronavirus pandemic. This measure will let national championships to be over during June.
Not only Euro 2020 was rescheduled to 11 June – 11 July 2021 but also women European Championship that will happen in 2022 instead of 2021.
It was previously agreed during a teleconference between all European football associations agreed that Champions League final would happen on 27 June, and Europa League final on 24 June. The dates seemed to be the most appropriate but the finals won’t happen these days.
UEFA formed 2 groups that will deal with changes affected by Covid-19. The first will be responsible for ending of club season while the second will estimate the approximate losses and consequences of the rescheduling of all events, as well as offer a pack of measures to restore the optimal position of the organization.
Two other continental championships were rescheduled. Copa América 2020 was also moved to the same dates as Euro 2020 while the African Nations Championship planned to take place in April was postponed without any exact dates announced.
Authorities of FIFA and UEFA decided to donate $10 million to the World Health Organisation to fight the disease worldwide. They also suggested creating a fund of football assistance that will help leagues and associations suffered from the pandemic.
Aleksandr Ceferin, UEFA president claims that we live in hard times when our health is threatened by the virus. So, football associates and leagues can’t exist ordinarily, and the postponement of Euro 2020 is the right decision that allows national leagues to finish their championships and keep health safer. All football associations of Europe agree with us that the lives of players and their families are more important that arrangement of the championship in time.
An enormous amount of money was spent on the organization of the Euro 2020 and all activities connected with it. UEFA officials said that more than 900 million euros were planned to be spent from 2020 to 2024, partly for the prize fund, partly for the development of national football of European countries. No doubt that many associations whose profits can’t be even compared with English Premier League, Liga Brava or Bundesliga are looking forward do this financial help.
Plans of tournament organization in 12 cities across the whole of Europe including the final match in London, will stay the same next year. Nothing will be changed about it if everything goes according to planned agreements.
Cheferin also reported that female Euro will be likely rescheduled to July-August 2022, and this won’t affect World Cup in Qatar that is now planned to take place in November.
Mark Mark Bullingham representing the Football Association agreed with UEFA authorities and their decisions. He claimed that they care about people’s health, and will do all their best to help with the men’s and women’s championship postponement. The European Club Association (ECA) will be included in the working group that will be responsible for changes in club championships’ schedules and optimally finishing them
