By Andrew Warshaw
March 16 – On the eve of UEFA’s all-important video conference call with member federations and other key stakeholders to determine the fate of Euro 2020, signs are growing that the tournament will be postponed for either six months or a year.
The Italian FA has gone on record as calling for a delay in order to complete the Serie A season, which has been suspended because of coronavirus, a position other countries battling with their domestic schedules seem likely to support.
Italy FA president Gabriele Gravina says the idea will be put to UEFA at its emergency summit on Tuesday. “We will propose that UEFA postpone the European Championship,” Gravina said.
Speaking to television channel Sportmediaset, he added: “We will try to get to the end of this championship [Serie A] because it is fairer and more correct after the many investments and sacrifices of our clubs.”
With Covid-19 sweeping across Europe and UEFA’s flagship event due to take place from 12 June-12 July at 12 different venues, some kind of alternative plan seems inevitable.
With many domestic leagues grappling with the fairest way of concluding their seasons, UEFA is seeking a united front with the boards of both the European Club Association and the European Leagues, and a representative of world players’ union FIFpro, all invited to the discussions which will also cover the Champions League and Europa League.
After Italy, Spain is the country worst hit by Covid-19 but La Liga president Javier Tebas said he is “convinced” the Spanish top-flight season, also currently on hold, will finish. But only if the Euros are called off.
“I am convinced that we are going to end the season. We are working with other leagues to match dates,” Tebas said. “I have had contacts with Italy, Germany. The approach for now is to see what happens on Tuesday with Euro 2020 and then decide.”
“The news is to see how we finish the championship if there is no Euro because, if not, we are going to have serious problems.”
One plan apparently on the table to make room in the calendar is to play the quarterfinals and semi-finals of the Champions League and Europa League as one-off fixtures instead of over two legs once the last-16 is over. Another is to squeeze the semi-finals and final into a four-day “mini” tournament.
One issue with postponing Euro 2020 for a year, even if it makes the most sense, is that it would clash with FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s much-trumpeted expanded Club World Cup due to take place in China at the same time. FIFA would have to compromise – by no means a given.
Another complication, with football across Europe having ground to a halt, is that virtually every potential scenario at international and club level has a complex knock-on effect especially since no-one knows when the virus will ease and competitive football can resume.
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