FIFA release statement to postpone three major football events- 2020 Euros, Copa America and 2021 Club World Cup due to coronavirus outbreak
World Football governing body FIFA have announced the postponement of the 2020 Euros and Copa America as well as the expanded 2021 Club World Cup.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak many countries and confederations have cancelled or postponed all sporting events including football activities.
As a result, a series of major continental and international competitions were suspended including the 2020 UEFA Euros, the 2020 CONMEBOL Copa America and the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Therefore, FIFA have announced that the Euros and Copa America will take place between June 11th and July 11th 2021. Meanwhile the first 24-team Club World Cup due to take place on the same dates will be postponed to an unspecified date.
In the statement they also revealed the establishment of FIFA-Confederations working group, to ensure the safety of all parties during these times. Finally they will be donating a sum of USD 10 million to the World Health Organisation to help fight the pandemic.
FIFA statement
“The Bureau of the FIFA Council chaired by FIFA President Gianni Infantino convened by conference call today to address the exceptional circumstances created by the COVID-19 virus outbreak and decided unanimously:
- To include the new dates of the CONMEBOL Copa América and the UEFA EURO (11 June to 11 July 2021) in the International Match Calendar and to decide at a later stage when to schedule the new FIFA Club World Cup which was due to take place in June/July 2021;
- To create a FIFA-Confederations working group, monitoring the evolving situation, working closely together and agreeing on a coordinated approach addressing the consequences of this pandemic:
- Calendar: Ensuring appropriate global solutions are eventually found for competitions at all levels considering the needs of all stakeholders while always keeping the health of all participants as a first priority;
- Transfer of players: Assessing the need for amendments or temporary dispensations to the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players’ to protect contracts for both players and clubs and adjusting player registration periods; and
- Potential support fund: Assessing the economic impact faced by the various football stakeholders in each continent to analyse if a support fund at global level will be required and how in that case concrete support mechanisms should be defined.
• To donate USD 10 million to the World Health Organisation COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and working together with the WHO to ensure these funds are used to support the fight against the virus in all regions of the world.”
