With the Euros delayed by 12 months due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, Le Parisien reports that the tournament will no longer be held in 12 different European countries, as Michel Platini’s initially envisioned, after determining that planning for such an ambitious tournament would be impossible given the patchwork of various restrictions placed on various countries due to the current health crisis
The newspaper reports that Russia is seen as the main candidate to host the tournament next summer, for various reasons
First, the country has a relatively low COVID-19 infection rate in the first nine months of the pandemic – recording around 29,000 deaths out of 16 million cases – raising hopes that the tournament could go ahead in as safe an environment as possible
In addition, Russia has retained the infrastructure that was created to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup and has a proven track record in hosting high-level international sporting tournaments and events.
UEFA, however, had refused to reveal their hand regarding possible changes to the championships next summer and said they would not rush into any decision at this point – but when it was contacted by Le Parisien, Alexey Sorokin, UEFA member The executive committee and an official involved in the organization of the World Cup by Russia in 2018, denied any knowledge of Russia preparing to host the tournament
« I don’t know anything about that, » he said when contacted by Le Parisien for comment Sorokin remains part of the organizing committee for matches taking place in St Petersburg as part of the original structure of the Euro 2021 tournament
Azerbaijan was another country that would have been considered a host, but this currently seems unlikely due to the ongoing conflict between the country and Armenia
UEFA Euro 2020, Russian national football team, Russia, 2018 World Cup, 2021, England national football team
World news – UK – Russia a chosen to become the ONLY HOST of delayed UEFA Championships in 2021 – reports
