MUMBAI: As speculated, the once-in-four-year soccer event, Euro Cup 2020, has been postponed by a year amid the novel coronavirus scare, confirms Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in a press statement. The flagship national team competition was scheduled to start on 12 June.

The UEFA’s official statement reads: “The health of all those involved in the game is the priority and to avoid placing any unnecessary pressure on national public services involved in staging matches. This move will help all domestic competitions (Champions League and Europa League), 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,” the statement further reads.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin says: “Moving EURO 2020 comes at a huge cost for UEFA but we will do our best to ensure that the vital funding for grassroots, women's football and the development of the game in our 55 countries, is not affected. Purpose over profit has been our guiding principle in taking this decision for the good of European football as a whole.”

Meanwhile, the associations have also set up a working group 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, says the statement.

The decision was taken by UEFA's Executive Committee followed video-conference meetings held with the presidents and general secretaries of the 55 national associations, and representatives of the European Club Association, European Leagues and FIFPro Europe, convened by UEFA President.

“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," said UEFA president during the announcement.

UEFA Euro Cup 2020 was scheduled to take place in 12 cities across Europe from 12 June to 12 July 2020. The proposed new dates are from 11 June to 11 July 2021.

UEFA also assured its existing ticket buyers and hospitality clients that if they cannot attend the tournament in 2021, the face value of their tickets and packages will be refunded in full. And, within a month refund process, will be communicated via email and on euro2020.com/tickets.

Over a dozen of football players and a coach are infected by the novel coronavirus alone in Europe. The virus that first appeared in Wuhan, China has been spread over 100 countries. At least 7000 people infected have succumbed to the virus and over 1.8 lakh people have been affected so far.

The postponement is a big toll on the pockets of sponsors, advertisers and football enthusiasts who were all set to experience the mesmerizing soccer event that was supposed to be held across Europe. Italy is the third most-affected country in the world with over 10,000 confirmed cases.