UEFA turn down offer from Israel to host Euro 2020

UEFA turn down offer from Israel to host Euro 2020 games WITH fans in attendance despite their world-leading Covid vaccination programme as they attempt to stick with 12-city plan… but could the final stages of the Champions League be played there?

  • UEFA turn down Israel’s offer to stage Euro 2020 games with fans this summer
  • Israeli FA offered the use of three stadiums to stage matches for the tournament 
  • There is also help host the final stages of Champions League and Europa League
  • Israel claim they can offer to stage games with fans in attendance due to their world-leading Covid vaccination programme
  • However, UEFA believe Euro 2020 will take place across 12 cities as planned

UEFA has turned down Israel’s offer to stage Euro 2020 games with fans, with the governing body committed to staging this summer’s tournament across 12 European cities as originally planned.

With the coronavirus pandemic still wreaking havoc globally, the threat of staging the already-delayed tournament without fans is becoming a real possibility.

Israel, who have a world-leading Covid vaccination programme in place and would be in a solid position to welcome spectators to games, have offered the use of three stadiums to stage matches while also offering a home for the final stages of the Champions League and Europa League.

UEFA have turned down Israel’s offer to stage Euro 2020 games with fans this summer

However, in response to the Israeli FA’s offer, UEFA confirmed they intend to stick to their previously agreed schedule of playing games across the continent, despite ongoing travel restrictions.

Football’s European governing body said: ‘UEFA is committed to holding Euro 2020 across 12 European cities, according to the schedule agreed last summer. There are no other plans being pursued.’

No Israeli city was among the 12 that were originally selected to stage the tournament but the country’s FA confirmed they had reached out to UEFA in a bid to help host any of their international or club competition games. 

Israeli FA offered three stadiums, including Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium (above), to host games 

A spokesperson for the Israel Football Association told City AM: ‘We did offer Uefa any assistance necessary.

‘We hope for all the Euro 2020 hosting, the national teams and clubs that it won’t be needed.’

The three stadiums that were offered up to UEFA were Jerusalem’s 34,000-capacity Teddy Stadium, the 32,000-seater Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa, and the 29,000-strong Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.

There is hope that any of these three stadiums could still be used for the latter stages of UEFA’s club competitions, seeing how Champions League and Europa League knockout games have already been moved to neutral venues as a result of travel restrictions. 

The first legs of Liverpool and Manchester City’s Champions League ties against RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach have been moved to Budapest. 

The country also offered to host the final stages of Champions League and Europa League ties

City’s last-16 tie with the Bundesliga outfit will now take place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on February 24 after talks between the two clubs.

Hungary’s national stadium is also hosting Liverpool’s clash with Julian Nagelsmann’s RB Leipzig on Tuesday evening. 

Furthermore, Arsenal and Manchester United have also seen the first legs of their Europa League last-32 matches moved for the same reasons.

The Gunners will take on Benfica in Rome, while United’s meeting with Real Sociedad has been switched from San Sebastian to Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin. 




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