Women’s Euros 2021 faces uncertainty after men’s championship delayed
The 2021 Women’s European Championships are facing uncertainty about their dates after the men’s 2020 tournament was rescheduled.
The women’s tournament was due to be held in England next summer, and includes four games in Milton Keynes, with the schedule due to include 3 group stage games and a semi-final at stadium mk.
However, rumours have suggested that the tournament may now end up taking place either later in 2021 or during the summer of 2022 instead. As yet, no official decision has been made by UEFA, but the Polish FA made the claim the tournament will be delayed.
UEFA has since announced that the tournament’s revised dates will be announced at a later time, along with those for the U21 championships and final of the Nations League, which had all previously been scheduled to take place in 2021.
The decision to reschedule comes as part of the move to postpone this summer’s men’s European football championships.
Euro 2020 had been scheduled to kick off in Rome on June 12th, with games in 12 cities across Europe before culminating in a grand final at Wembley Stadium in London on July 12th.
However, with the coronavirus pandemic seeing the suspension of domestic football leagues, continental competitions and international matches in men’s and women’s football, including qualifying matches for both men’s and women’s European Championships, rumours had persisted the tournament would be rescheduled to allow domestic leagues to complete their seasons and the final qualifiers to be played.
Multiple countries leaked the news that Euro 2020 was to be rescheduled before an official statement by UEFA president Alexander Ceferin was released confirming the postponement. Ceferin said the gesture is to allow for the completion of the disrupted 2019-20 season.
The decision was reached after a meeting of UEFA’s Executive Committee, as well as video conference meetings with the heads of UEFA’s 55 member associations and representatives of Europe’s major leagues, major clubs and players union FIFPro.
The FA’s CEO Mark Bullingham said that they will consider the ramifications of the move in due course. He told the FA, “We’ll be considering the implications for all England teams and our organisation over the coming days, including any implications on the date of the 2021 women’s EURO which we are very proud to be hosting.
“We’ll continue to work in collaboration with the PL, EFL and our football partners on the scenarios that could follow UEFA’s decision today and ensure we’re ready to put them into immediate action once it is appropriate to do so.
“Until then, we’ll continue to follow the advice of Government and the health authorities.”