UEFA Euro 2020 postponed as Coronavirus hits global sport

The UEFA Euro 2020 football championship has been postponed until 2021 due to Coronavirus (Covid-19).

The news was first leaked by the Norwegian football association on social media, stating that the tournament will now be played from 11 June to 11 July 2021.

UEFA har bestemt at EM utsettes til 2021. Det skal spilles fra 11. juni til 11. juli neste år. Mer informasjon kommer.

— NorgesFotballforbund (@nff_info) March 17, 2020

The tournament was scheduled to be played in 12 different European cities, beginning on 12 June this year. All domestic football competitions and leagues across Europe would need to be finished before the Euro was due to start, however – a situation that is unlikely with the Coronavirus outbreak.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently referred to Europe as the new ‘epicentre’ of Covid-19.

UEFA had already postponed the Champions League round of 16 second legs scheduled for 17 and 18 March, as well all UEFA Europa League round of 16 second legs scheduled for 19 March.

UEFA invited representatives of its 55 member associations, together with the boards of the European Club Association and the European Leagues and a representative of FIFPro, to a video conference meeting on Tuesday to discuss European football’s response to the outbreak.

Other global sport already affected by the Coronavirus outbreak includes:

Spain’s La Liga suspended indefinitely.

Tennis

The ATP has suspended its tour for six weeks ‘due to escalating health and safety issues’.

Golf

The year’s opening men’s major, the Masters at Augusta National scheduled for 9-12 April has been postponed.

Rugby Union

Final matches in the Six Nations were postponed.

At the moment, no decision has been made on the 2020 Tokyo Games. The Olympics take place from July 24-August 9.

Below are the numbers to call for each region of Spain for information and assistance in the event of possible cases of Coronavirus – as issued by the Spanish health authorities.

Click here for further information (in Spanish) regarding Coronavirus from the Spanish Health Ministry.