UEFA
has confirmed its club competitions remain suspended until further notice,
while all of June's international matches have been postponed.
European football's governing body announced the news on Wednesday following
a meeting with its 55 member associations to discuss strategy in the wake of
the coronavirus pandemic.
The postponement of international fixtures includes Euro 2020 play-offs
involving Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, as well as
qualifying matches for the Women's European Championships in 2021.
England were scheduled to have friendlies against Austria and Romania in
June, while Wales were set to face the Netherlands.
Deadlines related to the 2020-21 UEFA club competitions are also postponed,
with the governing body saying it would issue further advice in due course.
UEFA have also cancelled the European U17 Championship final tournament
scheduled for May 2020 and the European Women's U19 Championship finals due
to take place in July this year.
The executive committee has decided to suspend certain aspects of club
licensing provisions due to the "increasing uncertainty generated by the
ongoing extraordinary events".
These include the requirement to provide the preparation and assessment of
clubs' future financial information.
The UEFA statement said: "The executive committee reiterated its full
commitment to club licensing and financial fair play and agreed that the
current exceptional circumstances necessitate some specific interventions to
facilitate the work of member associations and clubs."
Nobody mentions cancelling the season
Analysis by Bryan Swanson, Chief Reporter...
UEFA's decision to postpone all national team matches in June was a
formality.
Footballers cannot play games during an international crisis, and the
coronavirus pandemic has not yet peaked throughout Europe.
The video conference call lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours, an hour longer
than scheduled, but there was unity across all 55 member associations.
"It is remarkable how together the football community is at the moment,"
said an official who was on the call.
Tellingly, not one association raised the issue of cancelling the season.
European football wants to finish the current season, even if there is a
growing acceptance that the preferred deadline of June 30 is likely to be
further delayed.
Various scenarios were discussed, including turning international fixtures
into three-game slots, rather than the current two-game windows.
UEFA associations also discussed the feasibility of scheduling European
matches - in the Champions League and Europa League - on similar dates to
domestic games.
They are working towards anything which reduces the prospect of having to
drop games.
Europe's associations will meet again later this month.
Their priority remains finishing the current season before considering when
to start the next.
But only when it is safe to do so.
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