UEFA wants to scrap 12-nation Euro 2020 plans and host tournament in just ONE country because of Covid-19 fears, claims Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, with final decision set to be made in March

  • Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says UEFA is considering scrapping 12-nations Euros
  • Instead, this summer’s tournament would be hosted by only one nation
  • UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin fears the impact of COVID-19 on the plans
  • Semi-finals and final are set to be played at Wembley Stadium in London
  • UEFA will make a final decision on where the tournament will be played in March 

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has claimed UEFA wants to hold this summer’s European Championship in just one country.

Euro 2020, delayed 12 months until the summer of 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, is set to be staged across 12 host cities in 12 different countries.

But Germany legend and Bayern Munich chief Rummenigge said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin favours scrapping that plan for a single host.

Euro 2020 could be moved to just one country rather than the planned 12 amid Covid concerns

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has claimed UEFA is planning to downscale this summer's Euros

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has claimed UEFA is planning to downscale this summer’s Euros

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is concerned about coronavirus and tournament plans

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is concerned about coronavirus and tournament plans

Rummenigge told Munich-based newspapers Munchener Merkur/TZ: ‘We must not forget that the idea of this special hosting of the tournament came about when the coronavirus did not yet exist.

‘At that time it was an initiative of the EU Commission that wanted to have football shown all over Europe.

‘But I know that the UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin – who is incredibly careful with corona – is thinking about whether it wouldn’t make more sense in these times to play the tournament in just one country.

‘That would be with a corresponding hygiene concept, of course.’

Wembley is set to host the semi-finals and final but the UK is currently in a third lockdown 

Portugal won the last edition of the European Championship, held in France in 2016

Portugal won the last edition of the European Championship, held in France in 2016 

Reports last week suggested that UEFA has no intention of cancelling the tournament because of the financial damage it would inflict.

But staging the competition, due to run between June 11 and July 11, in just one country is among a range of alternative options being considered.

UEFA will make a final decision in mid-March and have also accepted that holding games in front of capacity crowds everywhere isn’t likely to be feasible.

All 12 host cities have expressed their desire to proceed as planned and UEFA is aware that cutting some of them out of the plans could cost them millions in legal suits.

The Swiss FA president Dominique Blanc suggested last week that the tournament could be held entirely in Russia, Germany or London.

Wembley Stadium is set to host the semi-finals and the final of the competition.

Euro 2020 was delayed by 12 months and is set to run from June 11 until July 11 this year

Euro 2020 was delayed by 12 months and is set to run from June 11 until July 11 this year

The other host cities are Glasgow, Dublin, Bilbao, Rome, Munich, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Budapest, Bucharest, Baku and Saint Petersburg.

Rummenigge added: ‘In the next few weeks, UEFA will and must make a decision on how and where the tournament should take place.

‘That will not be easy. But the way I got to know Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA will make the right decision with great care and wisdom.’

UEFA has told ticket holders they will be entitled to full refunds if matches are moved to venues more than 35 miles [50km] away from the intended stadium.

Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland is also set to host matches in this summer's Euro 2020

Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland is also set to host matches in this summer’s Euro 2020 

Uefa said: ‘If a match needs to be moved to another venue, UEFA will firstly decide if the tickets for the rescheduled match remain valid.

‘When making this decision, UEFA would take into account various factors, such as whether the new venue is within a reasonable travelling distance from the original venue.

‘In the event that a match is moved to a venue which is more than 50km away from the original venue, ticket buyers would be entitled to a full refund of the ticket price if they cannot, or do not wish to, attend.’