Aleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA, is considering reverting the format of the upcoming European Championships to one country.
This comes following comments made by the Bayern Munich CEO, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, to change from the arranged format of having games played across Europe.
UEFA Considering Playing Next Summers European Championships in One Country
Current Plans for the Upcoming European Championships
Euro 2020 was supposed to be a monumental occasion. The decision was changed from the normality of there being one or two host nations to being played across the continent as a way to mark the tournament’s 60th anniversary.
At the time, fans travelling across Europe to any of UEFA’s 12 host cities would have been a monumental achievement and one to look back on with fulfilment.
Coronavirus Outbreak Stopped Plans
However, as a result of the coronavirus outbreak in March 2020, UEFA have now considered moving the tournament back to its previous format of one host county and a way to prevent the virus from spreading.
Naturally, hundreds of thousands of supporters would have been travelling between countries, cities and using public transport would have spread the virus. But, with the virus still very much a constant, travel limitations appear to be the most sensible of options.
The tournament is due to start on June 11 of this year.
What Was Said
Speaking to German newspaper Muenchner Merkur/TZ, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “We must not forget that the idea of this special hosting of the tournament came about when the coronavirus didn’t exist. It was an initiative of the EU Commission that wanted to have football shown all over Europe.
“But I know that the UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin – who is incredibly careful with corona – is thinking about whether it wouldn’t make more sense in these times to play the tournament in just one country. That would be with a corresponding hygiene concept, of course.”
UEFA added: “UEFA together with the 12 host cities is currently working on four operational scenarios for Uefa Euro 2020 (full stadium; 50-100% capacity with various mitigation measures; 20-30% capacity with various mitigation measures; and behind closed doors).
“Each host city together with UEFA will select 2-3 scenarios and develop plans accordingly in the coming weeks. A decision on which scenario will be applied individually in each city during the tournament will be made in March.”
Main Photo
