UEFA to host EURO 2020 across Europe
Mr. Gianni Infantino, Secretary of the UEFA Executive Committee, has just announced an unprecedented change in history, according to which the EURO 2020 finals will take place across Europe, meaning that this tournament will be considered as having no host country.
This idea was proposed by UEFA President Michel Platini during EURO 2012, to reduce the burden on host countries, when the difficult financial situation was happening in many countries.
“The main decision taken today by the executive committee is that the EURO 2020 finals will be held across the continent, in different cities,” said Mr Infantino.
“Those positive reactions have motivated us to come to today's announcement, except for Türkiye's objection.”
Gianni Infantino has not yet said how many countries and cities will participate in the tournament. The final decision will be made by UEFA after meetings to agree on the idea, scheduled to take place on March 23.
Türkiye is a candidate to host the EURO 2020 finals, along with Azerbaijan and Georgia. Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland, Wales and Scotland are also in the running to host the tournament. However, Turkey is the only country that has opposed the idea.
Istanbul is also currently in the running to host the 2020 Olympic Games, although the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said that a country cannot host two major events in the same year.
Previously, speaking at a press conference at EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, UEFA President Platini proposed the idea of "having up to 12 or 13 cities across Europe" to host the region's biggest football festival and most countries supported his idea.
As for EURO 2016, the tournament is scheduled to be held in 10 cities in France. The draw for the qualifying round will take place on March 9, 2014, in Nice. The EURO 2016 qualifying round will start in September 2014 and run until November 2015.
The venue for the final has not yet been chosen, but it is likely to be the Stade de France, the stadium that saw the French team win the 1998 World Cup after defeating Brazil 3-0./.
According to (Vietnam+) - DT
