Sports
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered to host in his country this June and July more Euro 2020 matches, postponed to this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are hosting the Euros (Euro 2020). We are hosting the semi-finals and the final.
“Any other matches they want hosted, we are certainly on for that, but at the moment that’s where we are with UEFA,” Johnson said on Tuesday.
Alternative models for the Euros are being evaluated because of the current travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
In Britain, more than a third of adults have received a first jab against the virus so far.
European ruling body UEFA has recently announced that it was sticking to the model of staging the Euros in 12 cities in 12 countries.
A Johnson spokesperson stressed last week: “We are concentrating on the games we’re to stage in Britain.”
London is set to host three group games, a round of 16 match, the two semi-finals and the final on July 11.
Glasgow in Scotland is also set to host three preliminary round matches and a round of 16 match.
Johnson also stressed that Britain wants to co-host the 2030 World Cup together with Ireland.
“We are very, very keen to bring football home in 2030. I do think it’s the right place,” the prime minister said.
Britain is the home of football, he added. “It’s the right time. It will be an absolutely wonderful thing for the country.”
In the new budget by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, which will be presented on Wednesday, Britain will earmark 2.8 million pounds (3.89 million dollars).
It is to promote Britain and Ireland’s official bid to FIFA to hold the tournament.
The football associations of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales released a joint statement on Monday welcoming the government’s budget pledge to start a potential bid for the World Cup in 2030.
“We will continue to undertake feasibility work to assess the viability of a bid before FIFA formally open the process in 2022.
“Staging a FIFA World Cup will provide (us with) an incredible opportunity to deliver tangible benefits for our nations,” the statement read.(dpa/NAN)
– Mar 2 2021 @ 2;13pm
Tags: PM Johnson offers to host more Euro 2020 games in Britain
