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LONDON: Euro 2020 has been postponed by one year until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, European football’s governing body UEFA said on Tuesday.
The European Championship were due to be played in June and July this year. UEFA announced that the new proposed dates for the tournament were June 11 to July 11 next year.
The postponement provides a chance for European leagues that have been suspended to now be completed. UEFA said the postponement “will help all domestic competitions, currently on hold due to the COVID-19 emergency, to be completed” as it made a “commitment” to finishing club seasons by June 30.
The announcement came after UEFA held crisis talks with national associations as well as clubs and players bodies via video-conference. “The health of all those involved in the game is the priority, as well as to avoid placing any unnecessary pressure on national public services involved in staging matches,” UEFA said in a statement.
In delaying Euro 2020, Uefa said it wanted to avoid “placing any unnecessary pressure on national public services” of its 12 host countries, as well as helping allow domestic competitions to be finished.
ICYMI: UEFA announced on Tuesday that #EURO2020 would be postponed by one year. It is proposed the tournament will now run from 11 June – 11 July 2021.
The 2021 UEFA #NationsLeague finals, the @UEFAUnder21 EURO and the @UEFAWomensEURO will be re-scheduled accordingly. pic.twitter.com/eFnO7zMoFA
— UEFA (@UEFA) March 18, 2020