UEFA Euro 2020 postponed for next year

Liam Watson
UEFA Euro 2020 has been postponed to their summer of 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

European soccer’s governing body revealed that the national team competition will now take place next year from 11th June until 11th July 2021.

The decision comes in relation to allowing Europe’s domestic leagues more time to complete their current seasons, the majority of which have now been put on hold due to the spread of coronavirus.

The Financial Times had earlier reported that UEFA hopes postponing Euro 2020 would give national leagues the opportunity to resume fixtures in the summer – where space has been vacated.

Last week, UEFA called emergency video conference meetings for 17th March to discuss the future of both Euro 2020 and this season’s Champions League and Europa League club competitions.

Representatives from UEFA’s 55 member associations have been involved in the meetings, along with the boards of the European Club Association (ECA) and the European Leagues. Discussions also involved a spokesperson from FIFPro, the international representative body for professional soccer players.

Most of European soccer’s top leagues have taken action and suspended their competition in response to the spread of coronavirus, although there are still a small number going ahead either behind closed doors or in front of a limited number of spectators.

On Friday, England’s Premier League and Germany’s Bundesliga become the last of Europe’s ‘big five’ domestic competitions to postpone their fixtures, following similar decisions already taken by Serie A in Italy, Ligue 1 in France and La Liga in Spain.

Euro 2020 had been scheduled to begin in Rome on 12th June and be held across 12 European cities, with the final taking place in London on 12th July.

The new dates mean it will likely clash with global governing body Fifa’s inaugural 24-team Club World Cup, which is currently slated to take place in China from 17th June until 4th July 2021.

UEFA’s Women’s European Championship is also scheduled for the summer of 2021 – starting four days before the new proposed end of the men’s competition. It remains to be seen how the governing body would adjust its calendar to fit in that tournament alongside the men’s event.

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Football Queensland Welcomes Musco Lighting as Official Lighting Partner

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Image Credit: Musco.com

Football Queensland has welcomed Musco Lighting as its Official Lighting Partner, bringing world-class sports lighting expertise to football clubs and facilities across the state.

The partnership will support Football Queensland clubs as participation continues to grow across the state, helping communities access safer, higher-quality and more accessible football facilities.

Musco Lighting is a global leader in sports lighting, with more than 50 years of experience delivering lighting solutions across sporting venues worldwide. The company was also the first in the world to be certified by FIFA as a Preferred Provider for Floodlight Systems and provided lighting for 12 of the 16 stadiums used at the recent FIFA World Cup.

Through the new partnership, Football Queensland clubs will have access to Musco’s specialist expertise and solutions as they look to improve and develop their lighting infrastructure.

Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci said the partnership represented an important step in supporting the continued growth of football across Queensland.

“I’m proud to see this partnership between Football Queensland and Musco come to life.

“With participation continuing to grow across Queensland, the need for quality football infrastructure has never been greater. This partnership will help our clubs access world-class lighting expertise to create safer, better and more accessible facilities for their communities.

The partnership provides an opportunity to combine Football Queensland’s extensive network across the state’s football community with Musco’s global expertise in sports lighting, supporting clubs as they continue to invest in facilities that meet the needs of their growing participation bases.

Football Queensland and Musco will work together to help clubs identify lighting solutions that can enhance facility quality and accessibility, supporting more opportunities for players and communities to participate in football.

Football Queensland Official Lighting Partner – Musco Lighting

With more than five decades of experience in sports lighting, Musco has delivered projects across some of the world’s most significant sporting venues and events.

The company’s FIFA Preferred Provider certification and involvement in the recent FIFA World Cup further demonstrates its expertise in delivering lighting systems to the highest international standards.

The partnership with Football Queensland will bring this expertise closer to Queensland’s football community, providing clubs with access to a specialist lighting partner as the game continues to grow across the state.

Premier League clubs approve new strategic partnership proposal with EFL

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Image Credit: Shutterstock

The Premier League and its clubs have recently approved a funded proposal for a new long-term strategic partnership with the English Football League (EFL). The deal could deliver significant additional funding to clubs across the English football pyramid.

The proposal, approved on July 30, will now go to the EFL and its 72 member clubs for consideration. The agreement could begin from the 2026/27 season, subject to further discussions and approval.

The move follows years of debate over the distribution of Premier League revenues. It also comes as English football looks to establish a more sustainable financial settlement between the top flight and the EFL.

A new financial package

The Premier League has not released the full financial details of the proposal. Reporting from the BBC and Sky News indicates the package could provide an additional $2.86 billion (1.5 billion pounds) to EFL clubs over 10 years.

The agreement includes raising transfer levies from 4% to 6% and establishing a new lifeboat fund of $38 million (20 million pounds). This pool could be used to help any EFL club that goes into administration.

The funding would support clubs across the Championship, League One and League Two. It could also include dedicated investment to strengthen the wider football pyramid.

The Premier League confirmed in a statement it already commits $3 billion (1.6 billion pounds) every three years to the wider game and communities. The new proposal would significantly increase its financial support for the EFL.

EFL clubs to consider proposal

The EFL will now assess the proposal before presenting it to its member clubs. Those clubs will consider the financial benefits and wider implications of the agreement.

The proposed partnership would also operate within England’s wider football regulatory framework. The Independent Football Regulator has backstop powers if the leagues fail to reach an acceptable financial settlement.

The latest vote marks significant progress towards a new agreement between the Premier League and EFL. However, it does not complete the process.

Attention turns to final agreement

Negotiations over increased financial support for the EFL have continued for several years. The issue gained further importance after the financial difficulties clubs faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Premier League’s unanimous approval now shifts attention to the EFL and its member clubs. Discussions on a deal have been continuing as far back as 2021. It is critical that a deal is reached soon for English football.

Both sides must still agree on the final terms of the partnership. The process will determine how future funding reaches clubs and supports the wider English football pyramid.

For the EFL, the proposal offers the prospect of greater financial support. For the Premier League, it represents a major step towards a long-term settlement with the professional game below the top flight.

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