UEFA seeks to bid for the 2032 European Cup, Belarus becomes U19 host

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UEFA began bidding for the 2032 European Cup on Thursday, aiming to make a choice while choosing the host of the 2028 European Cup.

Although UEFA hopes to add a host to its iconic national team championship, it will consider withdrawing from Belarus to the women’s youth championship amid the continuing turmoil under the authoritarian leadership of Alexander Lukashenko.

UEFA President Alexander Severin admitted that if the European Cup under the age of 19 expires next year in 2025, “we will not play in Belarus”.

UEFA is in a better position to fast track the bid to host the European Cup in 2032 and keep pace with the 2028 game. Ceferin said in an online press conference after the executive committee meeting that bidders must select the “one or the other” option to locate before the March deadline.

The bid timetable for the 2028 European Cup was announced two months ago, and the organizers will be selected in September 2023.

It is widely expected that Italy, Russia and Turkey will participate in the 2028 European Cup separately.

read: England draws with Italy and Germany in the national league

The addition of 2032 matches may attract countries or joint bids that currently hope to be Europe’s preferred candidate in the FIFA’s selection of the host competition for the 2030 World Cup.

For a long time, the Spanish-Portuguese bid and the joint candidacy of the United Kingdom and Ireland have been regarded as the best choice for UEFA. Seferin has repeatedly stated that Europe will only make a proposal to FIFA to avoid splitting its support.

European Cup 2032

Even if the size of the future edition of the tournament is not yet known, the organization of the 2032 European Cup will start unexpectedly early.

UEFA stated in October that the current form of the 24 teams will remain unchanged during the European Cup in Germany in 2024. It is only a temporary form of the future bid and may change.

Seferin said on Thursday that depending on how many of the 55 UEFA member federations expressed interest in March, the bid timetable may also change.

With FIFA pushing to double the number of men’s World Cups from every two years instead of four years, UEFA has accelerated the selection process of its hosts-a proposal that will crowd the crowded global national team competition schedule Suppress continental competitions like the European Cup.

World Cup Debate

European and South American football leaders strongly opposed FIFA’s biennial World Cup plan and warned their teams to boycott.

The 211 FIFA member federations composed of 55 powerful UEFA groups and 10 South American countries will be invited to participate in Monday’s debate on the ideas of the World Football Organization on the game and schedule.

FIFA had hoped that its online conference in Doha, Qatar, would lead to a vote to approve the biennial World Cup for men and women.

read: With the soaring infection rate, COVID has caused severe damage to world sports

The goal is not clear right now, and on Thursday Ceferin doubted how much it could achieve next week.

“We don’t have a specific strategy,” the UEFA president said when asked what compromises could be offered. “The only thing we know is that it is called the’future of football’-it may mean a lot or it may be meaningless.”

Belarus question

Ceferin admitted UEFA’s concerns about going to Belarus, because Lukashenko’s controversial re-election 16 months ago put Belarus in a difficult position.

“We know that the situation in Belarus is not good,” Ceferin said, implying that UEFA will not participate if the Women’s Youth Championship is held next year, but there is time to evaluate possible changes in the former Soviet Republic.

“If we are in a hurry, we will not participate in the competition. When the time is right, we will make a decision,” he said.

Belarus was originally scheduled to host the women’s tournament this year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was cancelled like many other youth football tournaments.

read: UEFA has no intention of compromising with FIFA over World Cup plans

UEFA’s decision in April to postpone the waiting time for Belarus to 2025 has been criticized by activists who warned sports agencies that athletes have become targets of the Lukashenko regime.

The same group of militants urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to take stronger action against Belarusian officials before the Tokyo Olympics this year. The team’s treatment of sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya has become a global humanitarian issue.

Club Relief Fund

UEFA confirmed that it is working with Citibank to set up a multi-billion-dollar rescue fund for European clubs that have lost revenue in the pandemic.

The fund should allow clubs to use their future UEFA bonuses in UEFA Champions League and other European club matches as loan guarantees.

UEFA said: “The club will initially have the opportunity to reorganize the existing transfer payments into a longer payment period,” adding that the fund may begin to operate later in the season.

Vaccine plan

UEFA’s promotional video featuring doctors will encourage players to be vaccinated.

“We have to be smart. People are not stupid, and when you explain it in a good way, people will understand,” said Ceferin, who has been vaccinated.

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