EURO 2020 postponed until 2021

UEFA have confirmed that this summer’s European Championships are to be postponed until 2021.

The decision came amid the continuing uncertainly over the spread of Covid-19, and was made following a video conference with all 55 of the governing body’s national associations.

“Uefa has decided that the Euros should be postponed until 2021. It will be played from 11 June to 11 July next year,” a statement read.

It leaves the situation of Mick McCarthy’s tenure up the in air, as his second stint in charge of the Republic was supposed to end with the conclusion of the Boys in Green’s Euro 2020 campaign.

Their next competitive game was due to be against Slovakia in Bratislava in a play-off semi-final next week, before a potential decider against the winners of Bosnia Herzegovina versus Northern Ireland five days later.

Should Ireland have made it to the finals, those games, some of which were due to take place in Dublin, would have marked the end of McCarthy’s reign, with Stephen Kenny set to be in place for the start of the Nations League campaign in September.

The decision may also have an impact on the Women’s Euros, due to be played in the summer of 2021. That tournament begins on 7 July, fours days before the final of the men’s tournament.

It remains to be seen whether that tournament now moves to the summer of 2022, with the men’s World Cup of that year not due to be played until the winter.

It also presents a clash with FIFA’s expanded 24-team Club World Cup, due to take place in the summer of 2021 in China.

Moving the Euros means domestic championships have further time to be played out to a finish.