Coronavirus: UEFA to decide fate of European football

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL (AA) - UEFA will decide next month the fate of European competitions, as the sporting world continues to find ways to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, the football association said Thursday.

"In the light of the ongoing developments in the spread of COVID-19 across Europe and the changing analysis of the World Health Organization, UEFA has today invited representatives of its 55 member associations, together with the boards of the European Club Association and the European Leagues and a representative of FIFPro, to attend meetings by videoconference on Tuesday 17 March to discuss European football’s response to the outbreak," UEFA said in a statement.

"Discussions will include all domestic and European competitions, including UEFA EURO 2020," it said.

"Further communication will be made following those meetings," it added.

As the world struggles to contain the rapidly spreading virus, organizers of sports events across the globe have been forced to cancel or alter plans.

International sports events were canceled or rescheduled, some played without spectators, with even the future of the Tokyo Olympics in doubt.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared coronavirus a global pandemic.

The global death toll from the virus known as COVID-19 has surpassed 4,600, with more than 124,000 confirmed cases.

The virus originated in China but has spread to an excess of 100 countries.

As part of efforts to contain the outbreak, many governments closed borders and suspended land and air travel with the worst-hit countries.