UEFA hints at joint hosting of Euro 2020
Reuters - Wednesday 21 March 2012, 16:59
UEFA is likely to consider
joint bids for the 2020 European Championships, general
secretary Gianni Infantino told a news conference on Wednesday.
The tournament switches to 24 finalists in 2016, which will
be hosted by France, so only a handful of single candidates
could realistically hold the championship.
"UEFA has a history of joint bids .so this is certainly
possible," said Infantino following a two-day meeting of the
executive committee.
"We have to bear in mind there will be 24 teams which means
at least nine stadia."
The first European Championships to be jointly hosted was in
2000 when Belgium and the Netherlands shared the finals followed
by Austria and Switzerland in 2008. This year's finals are being
jointly hosted by Poland and Ukraine.
Next week, all 53 member nations of UEFA will be invited to
bid to stage the 2020 tournament and will have until mid-May to
declare their interest. Voting will take place in late 2013 or
early 2014.
Turkey, who missed out by one vote for the 2016 tournament,
may again consider running but their chances will depend on how
quickly they sort out the match-fixing problems that have
overshadowed their domestic football season.
"Turkey had and has, unfortunately, some issues. It is now
up to the Turkish FA bodies to take the appropriate decisions,"
said Infantino.
"It is their responsibility. They know what they have to do.
We will look into this matter if they don't take any decisions.
We have zero tolerance on match-fixing and it is important they
take the right decisions."
An Istanbul court is trying 93 defendants, including the
chairman of champions Fenerbahce, Aziz Yildirim, on charges of
rigging matches.