The coronavirus epidemic could affect the international football calendar for two to three years and even affect the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, says Lars-Christer Olsson, a member of the executive committee of the European Football Association (UEFA).
The new coronavirus, which has infected more than 3.13 million people worldwide and caused more than 218,000 deaths, has already overturned the planned program in the sport, for example, this year's European Championships had to be postponed by a year, national and international series and they were interrupted.
The planned date for the Qatari World Cup is 21 November to 18 December 2022, and Olsson says it will be time to answer the question of whether the current crisis will also affect the four-yearly tournament.
"We will probably feel the effects of the epidemic for two to three years. If the virus spreads even more, there will definitely be problems with the international competition calendar," the Swedish sports diplomat said. "If a tournament is postponed for a year and then comes the Qatari World Cup in the middle of the European season, while national and international club series have to be held, it won't be easy."
Olsson confirmed that UEFA wants to end the season of the Champions League and the Europa League, which was interrupted in March, in August.
"We have a decision on this issue by the end of May at the latest," he said.
(Source: Source: sportrajongo.hu, mti / Photo: pixabay)