EUROS TO BE PUSHED BACK A YEAR?
City v Real postponed on unprecedented day of call-offs England face international chaos Premier League call crisis meeting with clubs
FOOTBALL is in meltdown but perhaps the government know something the rest of Europe doesn’t.
The coronavirus grip on English football strengthened yesterday, yet somehow, for some reason, ministers are burying their heads in the sand.
On a staggering day, Covid-19 continued to rock football as:
■ ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for the virus and the club’s game at Brighton tomorrow was postponed.
■ MANChESTER CiTy defender Benjamin Mendy revealed he is in self-isolation.
■ UEFA gave serious consideration to postponing Euro 2020 until next year.
■ LEiCESTER confirmed three players are self- isolating after showing symptoms.
■ WATFORd told players and staff not to report to training, with tomorrow’s game against Leicester in doubt.
■ ChELSEA informed their squad not to come into training after ordering a deep clean of their Cobham base.
■ ENgLANd’S friendlies against italy and denmark at the end of the month are FiNALLy set to be postponed at an emergency meeting next Tuesday.
■ MANChESTER CiTy’S Champions League second leg at home to Real Madrid next week was postponed because the Spanish club are in quarantine.
yet, as of last night the UK government seem determined to do the very British thing of keeping calm and carrying on. No enforced postponements, no games behind closed doors.
The shock revelation that Arteta is a virus carrier will surely mean that the Premier League suspend the competition immediately.
That is expected to be confirmed at an emergency meeting of clubs this morning.
you must ask, however, why it has taken news of Arteta’s infection to shake the Premier League into action.
Never mind that UEFA’s summer international showcase is facing the real prospect of being delayed until 2021.
Never mind that La Liga and Serie A have been suspended. Never mind that, as of last night, at least four footballers across Europe — including former Southampton striker Manolo gabbiadini — have tested positive for the Covid-19.
On Tuesday, UEFA will discuss proposals to postpone Euro 2020 by 12 months during a coronavirus crisis meeting.
European football’s governing body and the European Clubs Association will discuss on conference call a number of measures designed to minimise the risk of the virus.
One of the proposals to be discussed is delaying this summer’s European Championship, as well as cancelling the summer international window at the start of June. UEFA will then propose to use the period to play any outstanding European domestic league games.
The governing body would also look to complete any Champions League and Europa League fixtures in that period. Member nations vote on those proposals at next weeks’ meeting.
Another option that will be explored is shortening Euro 2020 by scrapping play-off qualification — which could spell misery for Scotland, the Republic of ireland and Northern ireland, who are all involved.
it is understood UEFA will also consider the idea of reducing the remaining Champions League and Europa League fixtures from two legs to one to help ease the scheduling crisis.
Tuesday’s talks will also surely confirm England’s friendlies against italy and denmark cannot go ahead.
On these shores, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed three of his players had entered self-isolation.
‘We’ve had a few players who have shown symptoms and signs,’ said Rodgers. ‘ We’ve followed procedures and they have been kept away from the squad.’
Watford’s training schedule has been significantly disrupted amid coronavirus concerns.
Players and staff were told not to attend training yesterday because of the risks attached to being in a public space.
it remains to be seen if Watford’s players and staff report for training this morning.
Tomorrow’s lunchtime Premier League game between the two clubs is clearly at risk.
Chelsea were taking their own preventative measures yesterday as they ordered a deep clean of their Surrey training complex which meant players were told not to report for training.
Even football agents are putting business on the back burner for the time being.
Sportsmail understands management agencies have placed travel restrictions on their staff to protect their health.