The key decisions UEFA have just taken and what they mean for Sunderland AFC and League One

UEFA have confirmed that EURO 2020 has been postponed for a year due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
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The governing body had held talks with key stakeholders today, with football across the continent on hold due to the growing health crisis.

Most leagues are currently due to resume in the first weekend of April but there is a growing recognition that this is now highly unlikely to happen.

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Despite that, a UEFA resolution is targeting an end date of June 30 for the current season.

Sunderland are awaiting further information on how their season will pan outSunderland are awaiting further information on how their season will pan out
Sunderland are awaiting further information on how their season will pan out

The resolution, which was agreed by all European leagues, read: “[There is] a commitment to complete all domestic and European club competitions by the end of the current sporting season, i.e. 30 June 2020 at the latest, should the situation improve and resuming playing be appropriate and prudent enough.”

Meanwhile, he continent’s flagship competition will now be held between June 11 and July 11 next year.

The move is crucial as it gives leagues time to potentially extend their season into the summer, providing the health crisis eases in the coming weeks and months.

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Announcing UEFA’s decision, president Aleksander Ceferin said that there was a determination to finish domestic competitions safely.

“The health of fans, staff and players has to be our number one priority and in that spirit, UEFA tabled a range of options so that competitions can finish this season safely and I am proud of the response of my colleagues across European football,” he said.

“There was a real spirit of co-operation, with everyone recognising that they had to sacrifice something in order to achieve the best result.”

UEFA have also confirmed that this month’s EURO 2020 play-offs have been postponed.

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Sunderland were expecting four players to be involved in those games, with Tom Flanagan, Conor McLaughlin and Kyle Lafferty already called up by Nothern Ireland.

Jon McLaughlin was expected to be named in Scotland’s squad to face Israel.

UEFA’s statement reads: “UEFA today announced the postponement of its flagship national team competition, UEFA EURO 2020, due to be played in June and July this year.

“The health of all those involved in the game is the priority, as well as to avoid placing any unnecessary pressure on national public services involved in staging matches.

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“The move will help all domestic competitions, currently on hold due to the COVID-19 emergency, to be completed.

“All UEFA competitions and matches (including friendlies) for clubs and national teams for both men and women have been put on hold until further notice. The UEFA EURO 2020 Play-off matches and international friendlies, scheduled for the end of March, will now be played in the international window at the start of June, subject to a review of the situation.

“A working group has been set up with the participation of leagues and club representatives to examine calendar solutions that would allow for the completion of the current season and any other consequence of the decisions made today.”

The decision by UEFA will give the EFL breathing room when it meets to discuss its contingency planning this week.

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It insisted in a statement on Monday that it had not taken any firm decisions on what happens next, with widespread doubt as to when football in the UK will be able to resume safely.

Any decision will be contentious, with Southend United chairman Ron Martin today calling for the current season to be called null and void.

His side are adrift in the relegation zone, while Coventry City, currently top, have said that the current campaign must finish.