Uefa impose cash gift ban for Euro 2020

Countries hoping to host matches at Euro 2020 have been banned from offering incentives or cash gifts to Uefa members during the bidding process.

Uefa yesterday announced the bidding guidelines for the tournament, which is being held in 13 different countries across Europe, and said only “token gifts” valued at less than 300 Swiss francs (£205) would be permitted. England are bidding for the final and semi-finals, with Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland aiming to bid for group games.

The guidelines aim to stop some of the practices that took place during the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

For example, England 2018 paid £35,000 to pick up the tab for the Caribbean Football Union’s gala dinner and Qatar 2022 spent £1million sponsoring the Confederation of African Football’s congress and Australia 2022 around £300,000 on a grant to the Concacaf centre of excellence in Trinidad.

Any Uefa official offered a gift or benefit other than a token present is now obliged to report the approach.

Cities can bid for either three group matches and a quarter-final, or the semi-finals and final. Bids must be submitted by 11 September, bid dossiers submitted by 25 April next year and a decision will take place the following September.