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ZDF: UEFA wants to propose relocation of the European Football Championship
Because of the corona virus pandemic, the European Football Association apparently wants to propose to the participants that the European Championship be postponed, according to ZDF. On Tuesday, UEFA would first recommend that the national leagues and the European Club Association (ECA) and then later all national European football associations move their tournaments.
The European Championship, which takes place in twelve countries, is originally planned from June 12 to July 12. An alternative would be to host the European Championship in summer 2021. To do this, however, FIFA would have to put the newly created FIFA Club World Cup on hold. A second option would be to move the EM to late autumn or early winter this year.
Andreas Rettig, the former managing director of the German Football League, said on Saturday evening in the ZDF’s current sports studio that in view of the chaos of appointments in the national leagues, an EM cancellation in the summer was “imperative”. (dpa)
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International match between Spain and Germany probably canceled
The EM test between Spain and the German national soccer team has also been canceled. This was confirmed by a spokesman for the Spanish football association RFEF of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. The game was scheduled to take place in Madrid on March 26, but was now expected to fall victim to the coronavirus pandemic. There was initially no confirmation from the German Football Association.
The international match between Germany and Italy in Nuremberg, scheduled for March 31, had already been canceled. The city of Nuremberg had banned events with more than 100 people on Friday, making a cancellation of the game inevitable.
The world association FIFA had already recommended that all international matches be postponed in March and April. The world association lifted the otherwise valid obligation to park for professionals. On Tuesday, the 55 UEFA member countries will advise on further steps in the coronavirus crisis. A shift in the EM from this summer to 2021 is now considered likely. (dpa)
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Five coronavirus cases at Valencia CF
In the first football league in Spain, the first professionals were infected with the new corona virus. A total of five Valencia CF players had tested positive for Sars-CoV-2, the club said on Sunday. All those affected were isolated at home and followed the instructions of the doctors, it said.
The five are in “good health”.
Valencia had last played in the Champions League against the Italian surprise team Atalanta Bergamo and missed the quarter-finals. Bergamo is located in one of the most affected areas in Europe.
The names of the infected professionals were not mentioned. Before the club’s announcement, however, the Argentine defender Ezequiel Garay had already announced on Instagram on Instagram that he had been infected. But he feels good.
“It is clear that I started 2020 with a lot of bad luck,” he wrote. The 33-year-old international had surgery on his right knee in early February. After the procedure, Garay will be out for the rest of the Primera División season, which has been suspended for the time being. (dpa)
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Bayer boss Carro:
Cancellation of all competitions is not an option
Club boss Fernando Carro from Bayer Leverkusen believes that the current soccer competitions in Germany and Europe will continue. “Cancellation of all competitions is not an option for many reasons,” said the 55-year-old.
At the same time, the native Spaniard, who has been chairman of the executive board for the cup semi-finalists and Europa League round of 16 finalists since 1 July 2018, sees many imponderables. “Reality is overtaking us regularly and within minutes these days,” said Carro. Therefore, even after the late suspension of play in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, “excessive criticism was out of place” until April 2.
To free up space in the tight schedule, Carro has to postpone the European championship scheduled for this summer. “In our view, postponing the EURO 2020 is imperative in order to at least keep the chance to be able to play the various competitions properly and fairly,” said Carro. Before the meeting of the 36 professional clubs at the DFL general assembly on Monday in Frankfurt, Carro also believes that a return to ghost games is possible. “Nobody wants ghost games. Nobody. They counteract the purpose of our Bundesliga operations, ”he said:“ At the same time, these games can be a temporary solution to ensure that the proper ending of the league is economically essential for many of us clubs. This option is unpopular, but you cannot and must not completely rule it out. “(Dpa)
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Handball: Aborting the season would be a disaster
The handball Bundesliga would like to avoid an end to the season like in German ice hockey. The 18 clubs are also dealing with the impending financial damage in their conference call on Monday at 11 a.m. “It will be a very serious amount,” HBL managing director Frank Bohmann said on Sunday. According to rough estimates by Bohmann, if the season currently suspended due to the corona pandemic were to be interrupted until at least the end of April, this would mean a loss in the mid-six-figure range.
From Bohmann’s point of view, there is an even bigger problem. “It is much more serious that the planning for the coming season is currently in doubt. Season tickets are not sold, and sponsors are also reluctant, ”said the 55-year-old. Unlike in football, sponsorship money is by far the largest share of club revenue. The second pillar is matchday earnings. The TV funds, mainly from the television contract with the pay-TV broadcaster Sky, are comparatively low and amount to about five percent of the total budget. “But that also hurts,” said Bohmann. There is no insurance against the Corona failures.
HBL wants to give the clubs recommendations on Monday on how to mitigate the economic risks. She has also drawn up a road map for further match day arrangements. “We will not stop tomorrow,” said Bohmann with a view to the rest of the season. But he knows that, for example, Leipzig’s managing director Karsten Günther currently considers this scenario to be the most likely. “I would be really grateful now if people would simply wait for a decision from the league and not everyone comes with their ideas,” said Berlin CEO Bob Hanning. So far, there have been few clear decisions without a back door. (dpa)
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First cases in the La Liga
In the first football league in Spain, the first professionals were infected with the new corona virus. A total of five Valencia CF players had tested positive for Sars-CoV-2, the club said on Sunday.
All those affected were isolated at home and followed the instructions of the doctors, it said. The five are in “good health”.
Valencia had last played in the Champions League against the Italian surprise team Atalanta Bergamo and missed the quarter-finals. Bergamo is located in one of the most affected areas in Europe. The names of the infected professionals were not mentioned. (dpa)
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