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UEFA still planning 12 city Euro 2020, despite UK offer to host tournament

UEFA are still planning for this summer's delayed Euro 2020 to be played at 12 host cities, despi...



UEFA still planning 12 city Eu...
Soccer

UEFA still planning 12 city Euro 2020, despite UK offer to host tournament

UEFA are still planning for this summer's delayed Euro 2020 to be played at 12 host cities, despite England's offer to stage the entire tournament. 

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night opened the door for the entire competition to be played on English soil, as European Football's governing body continue to assess their options.

Speaking to The Sun, Johnson said they would be ready to take on extra fixtures if requested to do so.

"We are hosting the Euros. We are hosting the semis and the final. If there’s, you know, if they want any other matches that they want hosted, we’re certainly on for that but at the moment that’s where we are with UEFA.”

The English FA have responded to the Prime Minister's comments this afternoon, insisting they're only planning to host seven games this summer.

"UEFA is committed to holding UEFA EURO 2020 across 12 European cities, according to the schedule agreed last summer. There are no other plans being pursued.

"The FA's focus remains on delivering the seven games at Wembley inclusive of both semi-finals and the showpiece final and welcome all efforts being made by government to ensure as many fans can attend."

Dublin's AVIVA Stadium is set to stage four fixtures and last weekend the FAI's chief executive Jonathan Hill stated his belief that the tournament will go ahead in it's original format.

“UEFA wants to see fans in all 12 of the stadia and all 12 of the cities and we are planning on the basis that we will have fans in the Aviva Stadium. That is the current situation and that is the plan.

“It’s fair to say UEFA are pushing forward because of the timetables involved. They have real people who bought real tickets for matches and who bought transport and hotels.

“At some point they need to take decisions in relation to the structure of the tournament. What they would like to see, as we all would, is as many people as possible in the grounds to watch the Euro finals play out."

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