EURO FINALS AXED

New dates to be found for play-offs and club deciders

European leagues by the end of June.

The postponement last night of the Euro club finals from late May was expected as the pathogen spreads across the Continent like wildfire.

European football’s governing body has yet to decide on new dates for the three fixtures.

In a statement, UEFA said: ‘No decision has yet been made on rearranged dates. The working group, established last week as a result of the conference call among the stakeholders of European football, which was chaired by UEFA President, Aleksander Ceferin, will analyse the options available.

‘The group has already begun its examination of the calendar. Announcements will be made in due course.’

All three competitions are currently suspended along with almost every European domestic league because of the coronavirus. UEFA last week postponed the Euro 2020 tournament until next year.

With a football return in June aspirational at this stage, contingency plans are being put in place for the Premier League, and other Euro leagues, to be deferred until August and beyond, if necessary.

That would allow for Liverpool to be crowned champions and for promotion and relegation issues to be resolved.

As a consequence, the 2020-21 club season in England, and in other countries, may be shortened.

Meanwhile, the board of the Irish Football Association yesterday suspended the football season in Northern Ireland until April 30.

A statement read, ‘(The board) said the decision had been taken with public health but, equally, the health and safety of players, match officials, staff and volunteers front of mind.

‘The matter will be kept up under constant review and it means no affiliated football will be played in Northern Ireland until that time.’

The season was postponed on March 13 with a view to resuming on April 4 but that date has been put back to April 30. Even then, a restart is highly improbable.’

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has echoed the messages urging people to follow Government advice to tackle the coronavirus crisis.

‘Let’s do as we are told - let’s ensure we listen to the guidelines so that we don’t end up like Italy,’ he told FAI.ie. ‘It is very real now. You look at the footage of the Italian Army carrying coffins from houses and it shows you where this could end up. That’s the threat this poses.

‘Postponing our game in Slovakia (the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final) and delaying the Euros for a year was the right thing to do.’