Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

FIFA wants March, April internationals postponed

March 14, 2020 09:32 IST

The South American and Asian World Cup qualifiers have already been postponed. However, the European body has not yet called off the Euro 2020 play-off matches which involve 16 teams.

The FIFA logo outside their headquarters in Zurich.

IMAGE: The FIFA logo outside their headquarters in Zurich. Photograph: Harold Cunningham/Getty Images

FIFA has recommended that all international matches scheduled to be played in March and April be postponed because of the coronavirus and said that clubs would not be obliged to release players for any games that go ahead.

 

The South American and Asian World Cup qualifiers which were due to be played have already been postponed. However, European body UEFA has not yet called off the Euro 2020 play-off matches which involve a total of 16 teams.

Several of the teams involved in those games have already asked for postponements and the matches would be not be viable without club co-operation. UEFA will stage a meeting on Tuesday where a decision is likely to be taken.

FIFA said that holding matches under current circumstances could present health risks to the players and public.

"It would also, most likely, compromise the sporting integrity of such matches insofar as certain teams may be deprived of their best squads whilst others may not," said FIFA.

"To avoid any unnecessary health risks and also situations of potential sporting unfairness, we therefore recommend that all international matches previously scheduled to take place in March and April should now be postponed."

It said that "the general football rules which normally oblige clubs to release players for national team matches will not apply for the up-coming international windows in March/April."

FIFA said it would study the possibilities for re-scheduling with the continental confederations, players and clubs. It said that "appropriate solutions will be found to allow the matches to take place in due course and with minimal disruption" provided there was goodwill and flexibility on all sides.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.