Dublin is ready to host an extra Euro match
AVIVA Stadium has been shortlisted for an extra game at next summer’s European Championship finals as UEFA are set to lose up to three of their selected 12 venues. ‘We’ve had conversations with nine cities and everything is set,’ said UEFA president Alexsander Ceferin yesterday. Ceferin stopped short of identifying the cities that have issues about being part of the deferred finals from June 11-July 11, 2021. ‘With three cities, we have some issues. So we will discuss further. We are ready to do it in 10, nine or eight cities,’ said Ceferin. It has been reported that Rome and Bilbao may be unable to honour their games as a legacy of Covid-19, while the Dutch authorities have warned that Amsterdam will only stage games behind closed doors unless there is a vaccine for the pandemic. The Aviva is due to host four games, three in the group phase, and a last-16 tie next summer. A fifth game appears likely now for Dublin. Ceferin said yesterday he expects 80 per cent of national leagues, along with the Champions League and Europa League, to be finished by the end of August. ‘We have an idea but we have to wait for the executive committee of UEFA to confirm the dates,’ he added. ‘I can say that the European season will be finished, if everything is as it is now, in August.’ The Premier League, La Liga and Serie A have yet to resume as clubs seek a pathway that ensures safety for all involved – the former is targeting a June 19 return. ‘I think the majority of leagues will finish the season. The ones who will not, it’s their decision. But they will still have to play qualifiers to participate in the European UEFA competition,’ warned Ceferin. The Champions League and Europa League have yet to complete their last-16 matches. Meanwhile, former Republic of Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson has been released by Salford City after EFL League Two clubs voted to curtail their season on Friday.