UEFA ExCo meetings kick off with 2020 Euros topping agenda

The ExCo in Sofia will be asked to approve the regulations for applying to host matches for the tournament – brainchild of Michel Platini – which will be staged in 13 cities across Europe.

The matches will be split into 13 different packages, with 12 ordinary packages including three group matches and one knockout round (round of 16 or quarter-final), and one package for the semi-finals and the final. In addition, there will only be a maximum of one venue per country, meaning one stadium for each of the available 13 packages. Both semi-finals and the final will be played in one stadium.

Each association will be allowed to present up to two bids, one for the ordinary package and one for the semi-finals/final package. Each national association can decide to present the same city for these two bids or two different cities. Projected stadiums will be admitted in the bidding process, with a deadline of 2016 for the construction of any new venues to begin, failing which any decision on such a host could be reviewed.

If the executive committee approves the bid rules, the bidding process will start next month, with final confirmations of bids in September. Submission of bid dossiers and start of the evaluation phase will take place in April and May next year while the crucial date for host cities to be announced for the 51-match tournament is September 2014.

The most intriguing part of the process could be the fight to host the latter stages of the competition. England and Germany have already thrown their respective hats into the ring for the semifinals and final but Turkey, whose original plan to stage the whole of the competition on their own was all but scuppered by their Olympic bid the same summer, could end up gaining strong support, particularly if their Olympic bid is unsuccessful.

Last week Platini hit back at Sepp Blatter’s criticism of the multiple-venue championship. The pair, who used to be firm allies, have increasingly opposed each other on a number of crucial issues and the FIFA president has gone on record as saying Euro 2020 will lack “heart and soul”. Platini countered by describing his brainchild as “innovative and visionary” and reminded Blatter that UEFA made its decision after consulting all 53 member nations.

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