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Fifa to make final call on Euros, Copa América and club World Cup

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 Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Picture: Lukas Schulze/ UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Picture: Lukas Schulze/ UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Fifa president Gianni Infantino is today expected announce the next steps to take regarding the halt of major football competitions due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

A few key announcements regarding the postponement among other big competitions include the Uefa Euro 2020 final that was due to kick-off in June.

Fifa has already received the requests from Uefa and Conmebol, the continental governing body of football in South America, to postpone the Uefa Euro and the Copa América, which were set to kick off in June.

However, Infantino, through a bureau of the council conference call today, has hinted that top of the agenda will be the following:

. To accept the postponements of the Copa América and the Euro to next year in June/July;

. To decide at a later stage – when there is more clarity on the situation – when to reschedule the new Fifa Club World Cup, later in 2021, in 2022 or in 2023;

. To discuss with the Chinese FA and the Chinese government the postponement of the new Fifa Club World Cup from 2021 in order to minimise any negative impact; and

. To discuss the impact of these changes on the calendar with the confederations, member associations and other stakeholders and work on the current international match calendar with the objective of finding appropriate solutions for everyone to be proposed as soon as the circumstances allow, hopefully before the end of April.

“The world is facing an unprecedented health challenge and clearly a global and collective response is needed. Cooperation, mutual respect and understanding must be the guiding principles for all decision makers to have in mind at this crucial moment in time,” read the statement.

He added that finding appropriate and fair solutions at global level was imperative.

“This requires unity, solidarity and a shared sense of responsibility and we need to think of all those around the world potentially impacted by our decisions.

“With this in mind, Fifa has constantly been discussing with confederations, member associations and other stakeholders from around the world, also bearing in mind that firstly health and secondly sporting solidarity are paramount considerations for the world of football,” noted the Fifa president.

In the meantime, Fifa said it was in a position to propose proactive solidarity measures specifically targeting the coronavirus crisis.

Infantino said Fifa was pledging $10 million to the World Health Organisation’ Covid-19 solidarity response fund.

“Fifa will also consult with professional football stakeholders to be able to shortly announce any necessary amendments or temporary dispensations to the regulations on the status and transfer of players to protect contracts for both players and clubs,” noted the statement.

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