Euro 2020, Copa America Postponed To 2021 Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

UEFA said that the 24-team tournament, which was due to be staged in 12 nations across the continent from June 12 to July 12 this year, would now take place from June 11 to July 11 2021.

  In a massive setback for football fans, organisers of the 'Beautiful Game' and the sports industry across the world at large, two of the biggest soccer events slated to be held later this year, Euro 2020 and Copa America, have been postponed amid the coronavirus threat which has been declared a major health hazard by the World Health Organisation. UEFA, the European governing body on Tuesday decided to postpone the Euro 2020 tournament to next year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has spread and infected thousands of citizens all across the globe. Meanwhile, the 2020 Copa America, South America's regional international competition, was also postponed until the summer of 2021, CONMEBOL announced. The development broke out just after the news of Euro 2020 being postponed until next summer thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. UEFA said that the 24-team tournament, which was due to be staged in 12 nations across the continent from June 12 to July 12 this year, would now take place from June 11 to July 11 2021. UEFA has also put all club and national team competitions for men and women "on hold until further notice", European football's governing body said in a statement on Tuesday. It is the first time in the competition's history that the final stages have been postponed. A working group has been set up with the participation of leagues and club representatives to examine calendar solutions that would allow for the completion of the current season... The virus has infected almost 180,000 people and killed more than 7,000 worldwide, with the epicentre now in Europe as infection rates slow down in China where the outbreak began. All five of Europe's top domestic leagues -- England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany -- are suspended, along with the Champions League, Europa League and World Cup qualifiers. Leagues have urged UEFA to prioritise completing domestic competitions, reflecting a concern that clubs throughout Europe will lose significant ticket and associated match-day revenue by not completing the season while still having to pay their players' salaries.