71 days before the kick-off of Euro football, the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over.

However, UEFA remains confident in the holding of the continental tournament which, anniversary edition obliges, must be held in 12 host cities in 12 different countries between June 11 and July 11.

The challenge is great, especially since the European confederation now wants all stadiums to welcome the public.

Dublin 

excluded from host cities?

UEFA has set April 7 as the deadline for host cities to send in a plan including welcoming the public.

On Wednesday March 31, the body also lifted the limit of 30% of spectators per stadium that it had defined last October for its competitions, leaving the local authorities to freely set the gauges.

🏟️ The UEFA-imposed spectator attendance limit of a maximum of 30% of the relevant stadium's seating capacity is now lifted, as well as the prohibition for spectators to attend futsal matches.

- UEFA (@UEFA) March 31, 2021

According to the newspaper L'Équipe, UEFA is confident in the capacities of 11 of the 12 host cities to host the matches under the requested conditions.

A time deemed worrying, the health situation in the cities of Bilbao (Spain) and Glasgow (Scotland), which must both host four matches, is now reassuring.

The confederation would be ready to give the green light, especially as their national teams are qualified for the competition.

On the other hand, UEFA takes a dim view of the uncertainty that continues to weigh on Dublin's side.

She plans to redistribute the four matches that are to take place there.

A decision that would be made even easier by the fact that Ireland failed to overcome the qualifications.

Adapted regulations

ed

In addition to these logistical issues, UEFA is in the process of ensuring that players arrive and play in the best possible conditions.

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a tightening of sports calendars and truncated summer preparation, which currently weighs on the bodies of players who are at risk of injury.

UEFA has eased Law 3 of the Laws of the Game by allowing coaches to make five changes, instead of the usual three, in order to have better squad rotation.

A measure already implemented in other competitions such as the Champions League.

The European confederation is also considering allowing teams to summon more than 23 players, as claimed by several coaches in the face of the health crisis.

"UEFA is considering the issue. No decision has yet been taken," a spokesperson told AFP on Thursday (April 1st).

Such a measure would be unprecedented since the national teams went from 22 to 23 players, during the 2001 Confederations Cup. It would favor nations with a very dense reservoir, but would also require the management of larger collectives, a task. humanly delicate.

Roberto Martinez, at the head of the Belgian selection, campaigned so that the selections could count "26 or even 27 players" because of the Covid-19, in a statement to the newspaper La Dernier Heure, Wednesday.

"I also think that if UEFA looked into the subject of being able to expand the list, by two or three players, that would be a good thing, provided they can all be on the scoresheet. 'has not had a positive case but I think that with fatigue and all that (the Covid-19), it would be a good thing, "opined French coach Didier Deschamps.

Vaccination of players before 

the

 competition?

Less enthusiastic, England coach Gareth Southgate knows "there are discussions" on this subject but is "not 100% favorable" to a larger workforce.

"I know the Covid-19 could play a role, but I think choosing 23 players is a skill," said the former international.

"You have to make good decisions, important decisions, and part of that may be lost if you have a large group."

>> To read also: Vaccinate athletes as a priority, a controversial event

And the English coach to demand that the players can in turn have access to the vaccine against Covid-19 while the vaccination campaign is in full swing in the United Kingdom.

Southgate would like players to have access to the Covid-19 vaccine: “A lot of them got the virus because they worked” https://t.co/xABvhH72wc pic.twitter.com/iu5NMkuvqo

- THE TEAM (@the team) March 19, 2021

"Our vaccination program has been amazing ... almost all vulnerable people have received their first vaccine," Gareth Southgate said on March 19.

“It would have been acceptable if professional sportsmen were on the list now. We ask them to keep playing, they have to quarantine themselves when they come back from certain places, they have to take risks by going back to their families and a lot of things. 'between them got the virus because they worked. I didn't say they should have come before the vital professions and teachers, but we are approaching the point where it might be acceptable. "

So many avenues that will be studied on April 19, during the next UEFA executive committee.

The European body should then announce the detailed and possibly final organization of the Euro.

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