ZCZC
BSP-04
HEALTH-VIRUS-FBL-EURO-2021-2020
Leap year: UEFA admit error over ‘Euro 2020’ name for 2021 tournament
LAUSANNE, March 21, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – UEFA were forced into an embarrassing
about-turn Friday after they mistakenly tweeted that Euro 2020 would keep its
original title despite being pushed back to 2021 as a result of the
coronavirus.
“Although it will provisionally take place from 11 June – 11 July 2021,
#EURO2020 will still be known as UEFA EURO 2020,” UEFA had confidently said
on Twitter.
However, just hours later, they were less assured.
“With apologies for the earlier error, to be clear no decision has yet been
made on the name of the rearranged EURO to be held in 2021. The earlier tweet
was sent by mistake,” they tweeted.
Euro 2020 has been pushed back 12 months to June 11 to July 11 next year to
clear the way for suspended domestic competitions to wrap up if conditions
allow.
UEFA said the postponement “will help all domestic competitions, currently
on hold due to the COVID-19 emergency, to be completed” as it made a
“commitment” to finishing club seasons by June 30.
Twenty of the 24 nations set to take part in the Euro have already
qualified, but play-offs to determine the final four participants, due to be
played this month, have been postponed.
UEFA said those matches, and other scheduled friendlies, would be played in
June subject to a review of the situation.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0936 hrs