Possible outcomes as UEFA prepares to decide on European football fixtures

European football’s fixture calendar is poised for some significant changes on Tuesday, with the continent’s governing body UEFA holding calls to discuss a way ahead amid the current coronavirus pandemic.

The outbreak of Covid-19 has led to the suspension of domestic competitions across Europe and to this week’s Champions League and Europa League ties being postponed.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some possible outcomes on Tuesday, and what the future impact of those decisions might be.

Moving the Euros

The direction of travel does seem to be towards postponing Euro 2020 until the summer of 2021.

A pan-European tournament, with 12 host cities, was ambitious at the outset and in the current climate looks almost impossible to achieve.

Pushing back to the summer of 2021 would give UEFA’s member associations the opportunity to finish their domestic seasons in June or July if conditions at the time allow, and therefore make qualification for the 2020-21 Champions League and Europa League more clear-cut.

Euro 2020 play-offs

That would create an issue regarding the Nations League though, which was a huge success in its inaugural run in 2018-19 but which may also come under pressure from the need to fit in 2022 World Cup qualifiers during 2021. The qualifiers for Qatar 2022 were due to be played between March and November next year, with the final play-offs in March 2022. If Euro 2020 gets moved back to June and July 2021, some of the dates reserved for those qualifiers will disappear, and may require a shortening or cancellation of the forthcoming Nations League.

Slimlining the Champions League and the Europa League

UEFA will be extremely keen to get the 2019-20 competitions finished, but travel restrictions across Europe – not to mention a number of competing clubs having players and staff in isolation – means they need more room for manoeuvre.

One option that may be discussed would be to play single-leg ties in the quarter and semi-finals as and when the Champions League and Europa League is able to get up and running again.

Pushing back the Women’s Euros

The Football Association is understood to be fully committed to hosting the event still, but is prepared to be flexible on dates if required to be.

The tournament could move to the summer of 2022, with the men’s World Cup not taking place until November and December of that year.

The Club World Cup

Could postponing the Club World Cup until 2022 or 2023 be a decision FIFA is prepared to take, and might China welcome the additional time to prepare given the impact of coronavirus on that country?