UEFA is considering re-formatting the 2020 European Championship.
Initially, the matches of the tournament were supposed to take place at 12 stadiums in 11 states (London and Glasgow, although they represent England and Scotland, are part of the UK), but the coronavirus pandemic could cancel out these plans.
According to the French newspaper Le Parisien, the union is thinking about reducing the number of host countries, and Russia is considered the main candidate for the role of organizer.
According to media reports, this trust in Russia is due to a number of factors.
Firstly, two years ago the country already had the experience of hosting a major international tournament - the World Championship.
The organization of the championship has earned flattering reviews from football officials, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino even called the 2018 world championship the best in history.
However, the World Cup infrastructure is still in excellent condition, and the stadiums are regularly used and maintained.
Secondly, even before the Euro was postponed to 2021, Russia was ready to support UEFA and expressed its readiness to take over the holding of several additional matches.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko announced this in March.
“In the time frame of our matches, we could well expand the program of the tournament and offer our capabilities, if we are approached with such a proposal.
Russia is ready for any development of the situation, we have plans, we will focus on the development of events.
The Coordinating Council states that it is almost completely ready to host the Euro, there is no doubt that Russia is ready to host a large-scale event, ”Chernyshenko said.
But a few days after the meeting of the coordinating council for the preparation and holding of the Russian part of the tournament, UEFA announced the postponement of the European Championship to 2021.
This made it possible not only to complete the national championships and European cups in the 2019/2020 season, but also to leave the chances of maintaining the previous Euro 2020 format.
Nevertheless, according to French journalists, every day in the union they understand that in the current conditions this is hardly possible.
However, the reason for this may be not only the threat of coronavirus, but also the armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to Le Parisien, UEFA is closely following the development of the situation and is considering the possibility of depriving Azerbaijan, indicated in the list of host parties, of the right to host championship games.
According to the initial plans, four Euro 2020 matches were to be held at the Olympic stadium in Baku - three in the group stage, as well as one of the quarterfinals.
Nevertheless, UEFA did not confirm reports either about depriving Azerbaijan of the status of the host of the competition, or about transferring the tournament to Russia.
According to the press service of the union, UEFA intends to adhere to the original plan and organize the tournament in 12 cities, but does not exclude possible changes.
“Now UEFA plans to hold Euro 2020 exactly in the format that was originally planned.
We do not have a plan B at the moment.
We are closely monitoring the situation and are waiting.
However, despite this, we do not exclude the possibility that Euro 2020 may take place not in 12 countries, but in 11. Or eight, or five, or even one.
President Čeferin has already spoken about this earlier, ”the Metaratings website quotes the UEFA statement.
These data were not confirmed in Russia either.
Alexey Sorokin, General Director of the Euro 2020 Organizing Committee in St. Petersburg, said that this is the first time he hears about such prospects.
“Are you considering the possibility that the European Championship games will be held only in Russia?
No, I don't know anything about this.
It's even hard for me to understand what you are talking about.
Of course, everything is possible in our life, but I don't know where this information came from, ”Sport24 quotes Sorokin.
Vyacheslav Koloskov, Honorary President of the Russian Football Union (RFU), spoke in a similar vein.
He admitted that he has little faith in such a development of events.
“I do not believe in this assumption, which was expressed by the newspaper.
If you offer such a fantastic story, then I think that Russia will not immediately respond - there is no clarity about how the situation with the coronavirus will develop.
To be honest, this is empty talk.
We must wait for the official comment of UEFA, "Koloskov told Sport-Express.
At the same time, State Duma deputy Nikolai Valuev said that talks about the possible transfer of Euro 2020 to Russia "had been going on for a long time."
He expressed the opinion that the country has all the conditions for the successful organization of the event.
“We will only be glad.
We do not have enough such competitions in Russia.
People missed sports.
The infrastructure after the 2018 World Cup is there.
Everything works for us and is waiting for guests.
Probably, during a pandemic, Europe fears that it will not be able to provide adequate security, while Russia will.
For this one should only be glad.
Everyone still remembers the World Cup in Russia, ”Valuev said.
It is worth recalling that in mid-October, rumors appeared in the British media about a possible reduction in the number of organizers of the European Championship, with Azerbaijan and Russia allegedly in the "risk zone".
However, the general director of the organizing committee for Euro 2020 in St. Petersburg Alexei Sorokin denied the information published by The Sun.
“We are not aware of such plans and discussions. We perceive this information as not very reliable rumors. We continue to prepare for the Euro. We are in daily contact with colleagues from UEFA, recently we held a round table on certain aspects of the organization of the Euro. So far, we have nothing to worry about, "Sorokin told the Championship.