Athletic: Euro 2021

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The football authorities there have already revealed they are considering three options: declare the season null and void and start again in August; end the season now, dishing out the prizes, promotions and relegations on the basis of the current tables; or wait for the worst of the outbreak to pass and start playing again as soon as possible, perhaps with a series of play-offs to decide this season’s winners and losers.

In Italy, this boils down to arguments about whether it is fair to hand Juventus a ninth straight title on the basis of a one-point lead over Lazio with 12 games left not played, or relegate Lecce, despite them being only three points behind Udinese, who are five places above them. This debate is just starting in England but consensus is to wait and see, with the vast majority of clubs keen to complete the domestic fixture list, even if that means playing until July. The only thing currently stopping that — apart from a much graver health crisis than currently predicted — is Euro 2020.

UEFA knows that and will move it. The Athletic has heard that the tournament’s suppliers have already been told to stop preparing for the tournament this summer and start thinking about how and when it can be squeezed in next summer.

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