Scotland and Euro 2020: UEFA committed to keeping host cities as deadline for fan proposals extended

UEFA currently has no plans to change the venues of this summer’s delayed football European Championships, with Hampden still earmarked to host four of its matches.

Hampden is due to host four Euro 2020 matches.

The tournament, which has been pushed back 12 months due the coronavirus pandemic, has come under increased scrutiny recently due to the higher numbers of cases across the continent during the winter, with some suggestions that the event would be held in one country rather than spread across 12 different venues.

However, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin today revealed that European football’s governing body is “committed” to the original plan – with the expectation that the current landscape, with football supporters locked out of stadia due to the virus, will have changed.

UEFA has communicated to national authorities and governments that the deadline has been moved to April to submit proposals surrounding the accommodation of supporters. Presently no fans are permitted to attend sporting events in the majority of European countries.

Scotland qualified for the Euros last November in a play-off against Serbia, securing their first appearance at a major tournament since 1998, and Steve Clarke’s men are due to play two of their matches in Glasgow at the national stadium against Czech Republic on June 14 and Croatia on June 22. In addition, Hampden will also play host to Croatia v Czech Republic on June 18 and a last-16 tie on June 29.

Ceferin said: “UEFA is committed to holding Euro 2020 in the 12 cities originally planned. The Euro is the flagship competition for national team football in Europe and is a vital source of funding for grassroots and wider football development.

"I am optimistic that things are highly likely to be very different with regard to the virus as we move closer to the tournament and it is important that we give the host cities and governments as much time as we can to formulate an accurate picture of what will be possible come June and July.

"Fans are such a big part of what makes football special and that is true of the EURO as much as it is of any game. We must allow ourselves the maximum space to allow their return to stadiums.”

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