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UEFA Euro 2020 bids

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The bidding process for the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship is the process by which the location for the 16th European Championship, commonly referred to as Euro 2020, will be selected. The process officially began on 21 March 2012. The hosts will be announced in late 2013 or early 2014. On 17 April 2012, Turkey became the first candidate to formally express its interest. On 15 May 2012, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales followed suit with a joint proposal. Joint Georgian and Azeri interest was announced in the following week.

Background

Euro 2020 will be the second tournament to involve 24 nations, following UEFA Euro 2016 four years previously. Factors in the selection process include the number of suitable stadiums, and their location across candidate nations. Voting is done using a multiple round exhaustive ballot system whereby the candidate receiving the fewest votes in each round is eliminated until a single candidate is chosen by a majority of the UEFA Executive Committee.

Hosting requirements

If there are no changes from the Euro 2016 bidding process, the basic hosting requirements will be as follows:[1]

  • Only the 53 football associations affiliated to UEFA are eligible to host the tournament.
  • Joint bids by 2 member associations are permitted and, under exceptional circumstances, joint bids by 3 member associations may be considered.
  • The stadium requirements for Euro 2016 were as set out below. However, Euro 2016 will now use 10 stadiums rather than the 9 initially specified, so the 2020 bidding process may adopt a new formula.
    • 2 stadiums with 50,000 seats
    • 3 stadiums with 40,000 seats
    • 4 stadiums with 30,000 seats

Schedule

On 21 March 2012, UEFA announced that the bidding process would be as set out below in the event that more than one expression of interest in bidding was received by UEFA before 15 May 2012.[2] Without a second bid, UEFA stated that the hosts would be confirmed on 15 May, subject to the confederation receiving the necessary guarantees. On 16 May 2012, UEFA announced that, because more than one national association had submitted their interest, it would begin its formal selection process and would allow any of the 53 national federations to bid, even if they chose not to declare an interest prior to the deadline. The timeline for the rest of the procedure will be announced by UEFA on 30 June.[3]

Phase Date Notes
First 21 March 2012 Declarations of interest formally invited
15 May 2012 Closing date for registering intention to bid
Second April 2013 Final bid requirements distributed by UEFA
Early 2014 Hosts appointed

Confirmed expressions of interest

Turkey's bid, the joint Irish, Scottish and Welsh bids and the Georgia bid are the three candidates to have so far formally confirmed their interest in hosting Euro 2020 with UEFA. The deadline for declarations of interest was at midnight on 15 May 2012, but UEFA announced that further bids were welcome on 16 May.[3]

Turkey

On 17 April 2012, the Turkish Football Federation became the first to formally announce its bid to host Euro 2020.[4] This confirmed Turkey's candidature in a year that Istanbul, the country's largest city, hopes to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.[5]

Turkey failed in a joint bid with Greece for Euro 2008 and was unsuccessful as the sole bidder in the 2 subsequent tournaments: Euro 2012 and Euro 2016. In its bid to host the 2016 tournament, Turkey missed out to France (home nation of UEFA president Michel Platini) by a single vote, but reports of Platini promising the 2020 tournament to Turkey have been dismissed by UEFA.[6]

Turkey's bid may be prejudiced by Istanbul's bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics. UEFA's president Michel Platini and the IOC are not keen for the country to host both events in the same year. The IOC will name the bid candidates on 23 May 2012 and announce the host on 7 September 2013, which is before the voting for UEFA's tournament takes place. The Turkish government favours the Olympic bid.[7] On 8 May 2012, IOC President Jacques Rogge stated Turkey would have to withdraw its bid to host Euro 2020, should Istanbul be awarded the 2020 Olympics. IOC rules state that an Olympic host nation may not host another major sporting event in the country in the same year as the Olympics.[8] On May 23, 2012, the IOC Selected Istanbul as a Candidate City for the 2020 Summer Olympics. [9]

Another issue for the Turkish bid are the allegations of match-fixing in Turkish football.[10]

Republic of Ireland–Scotland–Wales

On 14 May 2012, a day prior to the initial proposed deadline for submissions and with only the Turkish bid having been put forward, Scottish Football Association Chief Executive Stewart Regan confirmed that the SFA and the Football Association of Wales were discussing a late joint bid to host the tournament.[11] The two associations abandoned a similar plan to host UEFA Euro 2016 in 2009.[12] On 15 May, it emerged that the Scottish and Welsh associations had teamed up with the Football Association of Ireland to formally submit a last-minute joint bid.[10]

Azerbaijan-Georgia

Azerbaijan and Georgia

On 7 March 2012, President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili announced his country's intention to bid for Euro 2020, alongside fellow ex-Soviet nation Azerbaijan, directly to the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.[13] Ultimately, the Baku bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics by the Azerbaijani capital may put this bid in jeopardy. On 8 March 2012, the Olympics bid chief Konul Nurullayeva said that the nations' focus was on the Olympics (the deadline for which was on 23 May, 8 days after the Euro 2020 date), rather than the football tournament.[14] On 15 May 2012, hours after the announcement of the three-way Irish, Scottish and Welsh bid, Georgian Sports Minister Vladimir Vardzelashvili announced his country's intention to declare an interest in hosting Euro 2020 alone, having previously stated its wish to join forces with Azerbaijan.[15] On 24 May 2012, Azerbaijan notified UEFA that they planned to join forces with Georgia in a bid for Euro 2020 after Baku failed to make the IOC's shortlist as a contender to bid the 2020 Olympic Games.[16]

Decided not to bid

Six potential bids including nine National Federations that had previously stated their interest in hosting Euro 2020 have withdrawn or failed to follow up their interest since the start of the bidding process.

Belgium

On 4 December 2010, soon after a joint Belgian and Dutch bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup was rejected, it was reported that Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme had authorised an investigation into a potential lone bid for Euro 2020.[17] Belgium hosted UEFA Euro 2000 with the Netherlands.

England and Herzegovina–Croatia–Serbia

Croatian Football Federation representative Zorislav Srebrić said that the investment involved in preparing to host the championship would be worthwhile in 2010. President of the Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sulejman Čolaković suggested that the tournament would unite the people of the 3 nations, all of which were constituent Socialist Republics of Yugoslavia.[18] No previous tournament has been hosted in 3 countries at once. Yugoslavia hosted UEFA Euro 1976 using 2 stadiums: one in Zagreb, Croatia and one in Belgrade, Serbia. Reports in May 2012 confirmed that the three countries would not put forth a bid.[19]

Bulgaria–Romania

In November 2007, Bulgarian Football Union president Borislav Mikhailov announced that Southeastern Europe neighbours Romania and Bulgaria hosting the 2020 tournament was a possibility.[20] The status of this bid was thrown into doubt by more recent noises made about a joint Hungarian and Romanian bid. On 19 April 2012, Mikhailov confirmed that Bulgaria would not be participating in the Euro 2020 bidding process. The reasons behind the withdrawal were the recent success in winning the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship and Turkey's advanced candidacy and favourable position for hosting the tournament. He saw a joint bid with Romania for UEFA Euro 2028 as a more realistic goal for the country.[21]

Germany

On 4 March 2012, prior to the commencement of the bidding process, DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach said that he considered the hosting of the tournament to be an attractive prospect for his nation.[22] The country had previously hosted the tournament on one occasion, when it organised UEFA Euro 1988. On 27 April 2012, Niersbach declared that Germany would not host the championships in 2020 and noted that it was other countries' turn to host international tournaments. Germany hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[23]

Hungary–Romania

Long-time president of the Romanian Football Federation Mircea Sandu and Hungarian Football Federation made his intention for Romania and Hungary to host either Euro 2020 or Euro 2024 clear in the autumn of 2010.[24] In May 2012, reports confirmed there would be no bid involving the two countries.[19]

Netherlands

On 9 March 2011, Harry Been, who ran the country's joint hosting of UEFA Euro 2000 with Belgium, announced that the KNVB would consider its candidacy for 2020.[25] On 23 March 2012, it emerged that the KNVB had ruled itself out of the process. The Netherlands decided not to make a bid for the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship, citing Turkey's likely win. Bert van Oostveen, head of the Dutch football association, said that it would consider a bid for Euro 2024.[26]

References

  1. ^ "2016 bidding process given green light". UEFA.com. UEFA. 13 December 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Bidding process for UEFA EURO 2020 decided". UEFA.com. UEFA. 21 March 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Preliminary interest shown for UEFA EURO 2020 bid". UEFA.com. UEFA. 16 May 2012.
  4. ^ "TFF Başkanı'ndan Açıklama" (in Turkish). Turkish Football Federation. 17 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Doyle, Mark (17 April 2012). "Turkish Football Federation confirms Euro 2020 bid".
  6. ^ "UEFA: Platini didn't 'promise' Euro 2020 to Turkey". The Times of India. Delhi: The Times Group. 20 January 2012.
  7. ^ Warshaw, Andrew (27 April 2012). "German decision not to bid for Euro 2020 spells bad news for Istanbul Olympic campaign". insidethegames.biz.
  8. ^ "Rogge tells Turkey, Olympics or Euros but not both". The Times of India. The Times Group. 8 May 2012.
  9. ^ IOC selects three cities as Candidates for the 2020 Olympic Games
  10. ^ a b "Scotland and Wales FAs may look to Ireland to aid Euro 2020 bid". RTÉ Sport. RTE. 15 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Scotland and Wales consider late joint bid to stage Euro 2020". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. 14 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  12. ^ "Wales and Scotland abandon Euro 2016 bid". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. 2 March 2009. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  13. ^ "Georgia, Azerbaijan plan bid to co-host Euro 2020". Sports Illustrated. Time Inc. Sports Group. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  14. ^ "Azerbaijan Only Pitching to Win Olympics Not UEFA Euro 2020". WorldFootballInsider.com. 8 March 2012.
  15. ^ "Georgia makes solo bid for Euro 2020". AFP. 15 May 2012.
  16. ^ "Azerbaijan, Georgia renew joint EURO 2020 bid". FIFA.com. FIFA. 25 May 2012.
  17. ^ "Haalt België Euro 2020 of WK -20 binnen?". belgiumsoccer.be (in Dutch). 12 April 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "Drei Länder für eine Fußball-EM". dw.de (in German). Deutsche Welle. 8 July 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ a b "Exclusive - More FAs Rule Out Battling Turkey for Euro 2020". WorldFootballInsider.com. 3 May 2012.
  20. ^ "Bulgaria confirma: vrea sa organizeze EURO 2020 impreuna cu Romania". HotNews.ro (in Romanian). 19 November 2007. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "Bulgaria aborts bid to host Euro 2020 football championship". The Sofia Echo. Sofia: Sofia Echo Media. 19 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Niersbach: EM-Bewerbung wäre "reizvoll"". FIFA.com (in German). FIFA. 4 March 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "EM 2020 findet nicht in Deutschland statt". Kicker (in German). Nuremberg: Olympia-Verlag. 27 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "România şi Ungaria vor să organizeze Euro 2020 sau 2024". România Liberă (in Romanian). 28 September 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "KNVB richt zich nu op binnenhalen EK 2020" (in Dutch). NU.nl. 10 March 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Vlieger, Stefan. "KNVB gaat niet voor organisatie EK 2020". Goal.com (in Dutch). {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
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