Ceferin is trying to calm down in the run-up to the EM
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin is hoping for a European Football Championship this summer that is “as normal as possible”. A large proportion of the population will be vaccinated by the start of the tournament on June 11, the Slovenian said during the UEFA Congress in Montreux on Tuesday, also with a view to the fact that all 51 European Championship games should be played in front of at least a few spectators.
“We will not take any risks – all decisions will be made together with the local authorities,” said Ceferin. He thanked them for their “incredible” support. Nine of the twelve planned European Championship cities have already agreed to host their games in front of an audience. In Munich, Bilbao and Dublin there are so far no guarantees. UEFA intends to make a final decision on the venues on Friday.
There will always be one or two leaders who “criticize and attack football,” Ceferin said of the discussions about the tournament. “It's unbearable, but we can't change it. We should focus on our goals and spread positive energy.” The Austrian national team will face North Macedonia (June 13) and Ukraine (June 21) in Bucharest and the Netherlands in Amsterdam (June 17) in the group stage.
