FA in talks with UEFA about UK being sole hosts of Euro 2021

Could football finally be coming home once again? Well, it is being reported that talks are underway about the UK hosting next summers European Championships.

The European Championships were initially due to take place this summer, but were postponed by a year as the Coronavirus pandemic took a grip across the globe, with several European nations being among the worst affected.

While all previous tournaments have been held in either one country or shared between a pair of neighbouring states, the 2020 edition of the competition has been arranged to be played across the continent, a ‘zany idea’ first floated by former UEFA president Michel Platini back in 2012.

The tournament is currently scheduled to be played in 12 countries, with Turkey’s clash against Italy in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico getting the action underway on June 11th, before being concluded in London’s Wembley Stadium a month later.

However, with the pandemic raging on, there are concerns about the feasibility and safety of hosting the competition in its current format, and according to the Mail, talks are being held about the UK taking on the status as hosts.

UEFA are still keen to stick to their original plan, and the potential approval of a vaccine against the virus could help maintain those plans, though the European governing body have apparently confirmed to the Mail that talks are ongoing about a backup solution.

So far, Wembley is due to host seven games, while Scotland’s Hampden Park is scheduled to host four, though if the plans were to change then Irish capital Dublin would likely miss out, the Aviva stadium scheduled to host four games.

It is expected that fans will be allowed to return in some shape or form by next summer, with the report suggesting that fans could be required to take a COVID test before the game before being allowed entry, a situation which would allow authorities to maximise attendances in relative safety.

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