By Andrew Warshaw
June 30 – UEFA President Michel Platini says the 2020 European Championships could be staged across the continent instead of by one or two host nations.
At a news conference on the eve of the 2012 final between reigning champions Spain and Italy, Platini (pictured top) claimed his revolutionary proposal has the support of the majority of the Executive Committee of European football’s governing body.
“This matter will be discussed very seriously,” he said.
“We will have a great debate about 2020, and discuss the pros and cons.
“Then we will make a decision.
“It’s an idea I feel really passionate about: the Euros in 2020 could be held all over Europe.
“It could be either one country and 12 stadiums, or one stadium in 12 or 13 cities.”
Although the plan would vastly increase the distances between stadiums, Platini said there were obvious advantages.
“We wouldn’t have to build stadiums or airports,” he pointed out.
“That could be important in an economic crisis.”
The next European Championships in France in 2016 will be the first to comprise 24 teams, eight more than at present.
But fewer and fewer countries have the infrastructure or funds to cope with an expanded tournament – hence Platini’s radical suggestion.
“It will be a lot easier from a financial perspective,” he added.
Turkey, which lost out to France by a single vote for 2016, had been favourite to host the event in 2020 (Atatürk Olympic Stadium, the largest-capacity stadium of Turkey, pictured above) but its interest is plagued by controversy over Istanbul’s bid to host the Summer Olympics the same year.
“We are not going to wait until we know whether Turkey are going to get the Olympics,” insisted Platini, who said a firm decision on the proposal would be made in December or January.
“It creates a problem for us.
“We do have other candidates – everyone has the possibility to host it.”
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