Already postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the European Nations Football Championship is to be played from June 11 to July 12, 2021 in twelve different cities and countries (with semi-final and final in London). But nothing has yet been acquired and UEFA is considering other avenues – and this always because of the health situation – than this relocated format wanted in his time by the former boss of European football, Michel Platini.
This is what the President of the Swiss Football Federation, Dominique Blanc, suggests in a speech granted to several Swiss media, including The Geneva Tribune, this January 12, 2021.
“I sincerely believe that the Euro will take place, but no one can yet say in what form, advances the Vaud boss of the ASF (Swiss Football Association). We have no certainty about what might happen. In view of the health situation, I personally believe that the starting version, with competition scattered throughout Europe, is unlikely to see the light of day, given the travel restrictions. It seems to me, in any case, difficult. Today I can’t see Switzerland going to play in Baku. “
A final decision in March at the UEFA Congress
Known for being well informed on everything he can say and decide in Nyon (the Swiss headquarters of UEFA), Mr. Blanc believes that a return of the spectators “Seems premature” in the summer of 2021 and puts forward two fallback solutions currently under study. “The first variant would be to play the Euro in a single country, in Russia or in Germany for example. The second and even more restrictive solution would be to fall back on a single large city, with enough stadiums to accommodate the six groups. This could be the case with London. “
On the UEFA side, we indicate to the World that the words of the Swiss leader only reflect “His personal opinion”. Moreover, this same source informs that a decision “Should probably be taken in March” concerning the percentage of spectators allowed to enter the stadiums for the competition.
Initially, the UEFA congress was supposed to be held in March in Minsk, Belarus, but was repatriated to Montreux (Switzerland) on April 20. Will the location of the Euro be fixed by then? “The federations need to be quickly fixed”, recalls Dominique Blanc. In theory, the French team should start their tournament on June 15 against Germany in Munich before facing Hungary and Portugal on June 19 and 23 in Budapest. In theory…
