UEFA are determined to rescue Nations League

THE governing bodies of leading UK sports will hold crunch talks with the Government today about how to return to a sporting calendar following the Covid-19 crisis.

Bosses from organisations including the FA, England and Wales Cricket Board, Rugby Football Union and Lawn Tennis Association will hold a video conference call with Government officials to discuss plans to stage events again from June.

The move comes after it was announced sports could resume behind closed doors on June 1, despite the ongoing pandemic.

The Government has given the green light for events like football matches to restart again following the Covid-19 crisis, after outlining protocols that include the resumption of professional sport.

But it is understood major sporting events could have to take place without fans until a vaccine can be found for the virus – which could take as long as 12 months.

Prime Minister Boris

Johnson has also stated that sport will be permitted to be broadcast from behind closed doors from the start of next month at the earliest.

The Government document – entitled ‘Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government’s Covid-19

UEFA are fully committed to the Nations League – even though there is huge doubt when the finals could be played.

The European governing body’s national team committee are trying to work out a formula to play the remaining fixtures.

England have Iceland, Belgium and Denmark in their group, with three lots of home and away fixtures originally scheduled for this autumn. Organisers are now likely to squeeze three games into international breaks to ensure the Nations League still goes ahead. They have the added complication of trying to fit in the remaining Euro 2020 play-off games.

The Nations League finals were due to be played in the summer of 2021, but with the Euros pushed back by 12 months they could play them in October or November.

The summer of 2022 is clear because the World Cup in Qatar is in the winter but UEFA aims to get the Nations League completed in 2021. The competition was a big hit and England boss Gareth Southgate (above) supports the format over meaningless friendlies.