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      Gary Lineker leads calls for Euro 2020 to be held ENTIRELY in England but Uefa still plan to hold it across 12 countries

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      GARY LINEKER showed his excitement at reports of England being handed the reins to host every game of Euro 2020.
      Talk has been sparked of Uefa binning its original plan to host the tournament across 12 European cities, with a Wembley final.

      Gary Lineker is keen on Euro 2020 being moved entirely to EnglandCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Fans are set to return to Wembley this summerCredit: Alamy Live News

      But SunSport has revealed that the governing body has no plans at this stage to tear up the extensive tournament setup.
      Lineker responded to the idea of England being named the sole host of the summer showcase, tweeting: “Ooooft. Yes please.”
      Fans across the country are excited by the prospect although some are concerned of the impact it would have on its coronavirus situation.
      Vaccine rollout has been quicker in the UK than the rest of Europe, with another country doing well, Israel, offering to host Euro 2020.

      Uefa rejected the proposal to move games to three stadiums in the country, which was knocked out of qualification in the play-offs by Scotland.
      With host cities stretching from Baku to Bilbao, there are concerns over travel restrictions and potential coronavirus outbreaks during the tournament.

      European club competitions have already been forced to move fixtures due to blocked airways, such as between the UK and Portugal.
      Furthermore, plans are in place for the return of fans in England by the summer.

      Uefa are ready to stomach lost ticket revenue in a number of locations, and would have to compensate any cities stripped of matches.
      A conference call between the body and the various hosts earlier this week did not discuss a potential England-only Euros.
      A final decision must be made by April, at which point the pathway for controlling the virus and vaccinating against it should look clearer across the continent.
      But there are doubts over the original plan for the games, with Armand Duka, a member of the Uefa executive committee, telling Italy’s Radio Kiss Kiss: “It doesn’t depend on Uefa – it’s up to the authorities in each country.
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      “They have decided to let the fans into the grounds in England and we hope it will happen in the rest of Europe too.
      “The hope is that Euro 2020 can be played with 50 per of fan capacities in the stands.
      “It is possible that it could be played solely in England.
      “But there are still four or five months left. Let’s see if the situation will change. If not, England remains a possibility.”
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      Euro 2020 WILL go ahead this summer with Uefa confident fans will be allowed to travel across Europe amid vaccine push

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      UEFA’S pandemic expert has promised Euro 2020 WILL definitely go ahead.
      And Dr Daniel Koch believes it is possible that fans will be able to travel across the continent in a response to the Covid vaccine roll-out.

      Dr Daniel Koch is hopeful that fans will be able to travel across Europe to attend matches at Euro 2020 this summerCredit: AFP – Getty

      Koch spent most of the past year battling the pandemic in his previous role as head of communicable diseases at Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health.
      He said: “There is no way the Euros will not happen. They will happen.
      “There is no worst case scenario. There are realistic scenarios and best-case scenarios.”
      Uefa will confirm the structure of the tournament in early April, with insiders at headquarters in Nyon still suggesting the planned 12 host city format is likely to remain.

      Koch conceded that, for now, there remain doubts over whether and how many fans will be allowed into the grounds.

      The ending of Covid restrictions in the UK opens the prospect of 90,000 full houses at Wembley, due to host seven games including England’s three group matches, both semi-finals and the final, by the end of the tournament.
      Koch added: “I think there will be a lot of flexibility at least up until the end of April.

      “A decision must be made at the beginning of April but then there is a lot of flexibility to say ‘now we can scale-up because the situation improved much more than expected’.
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      “I think the capacity percentages are much more than we imagine. 
      “In the autumn some countries were at 30 per cent in the grounds and I think it is possible more than 30 per cent by the summer.
      “It is very, very difficult to forecast. It is not only forecasting the epidemic, it is forecasting the politics. 
      “The feeling in Europe is still very sceptical that this pandemic will be in a good shape in June.
      “But if you look at the numbers and all the possibilities we have, I think we should plan in an optimistic way.
      “At the moment it is too early to say if fans will be allowed to travel.

      England boast the most-valuable squad of all Euro 2020 nations

      “We will see what the situation is and what is the requirement from the different countries but I hope that at least some travelling will be possible.
      “Every country has tried to protect itself but travel restrictions are not the main issue. 
      “The main issue is to keep this virus bound by detecting the case, finding the connections and have social distancing. But we are confident.”

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      Champions League final could be held in New York as Uefa plan drastic changes including 36 teams

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      THE Champions League final could be held in New York in Uefa’s dramatic revamp.
      European chiefs want to agree the new 36-team model for their biggest prize will run for at least nine seasons from 2024.

      The Champions League final could take place in New York in a major overhaul from Uefa

      And as part of the pitch to potential sponsors, Uefa is suggesting that the showpiece event could take ‘Old Big Ears’ to the Big Apple.
      President Aleksander Ceferin floated the prospect of the Champions League final being taken out of Europe shortly after his election in 2016.
      He said: “I think it might be an idea in the future but we have to speak about it.
      “To go from Portugal to Azerbaijan, for example, is almost the same as if you go to New York. For the fans it’s no problem.”

      Ceferin subsequently rowed back from the idea in the short-term and the upcoming finals will be staged in Istanbul in June, followed by St Petersburg, Munich and then Wembley in 2024.
      But that will signal the end of the Champions League in its current format.
      Despite opposition from European top flight leagues, including the Premier League, Uefa is determined to plough ahead with its revamp concept.
      That will see the 36 teams – with two of the four extra places awarded to clubs based on ‘historical coefficients’, representing a potential backdoor route for the likes of Manchester United or Juventus – put in a single league.

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      All teams will play ten games against seeded opponents to create a final table through the the so-called ‘Swiss system’.
      The top eight clubs will pass to the last-16 knock-out stage by right, joined by the winners of play-off involving those sides ranked from ninth to 24th.
      But Uefa recognises the need to change its marketing strategy to get more high value sponsors on board.
      And appealing to the cash-laden US market could be the key to unlocking extra millions in revenue.
      American fans are desperate to see Europe’s biggest sides play competitive games on their soil and no match means more than the Champions League Final.
      A 3pm Saturday afternoon kick-off on the East Coast would still mean the match beginning in its normal 8pm slot in the UK, 9pm in most of Europe, so it would not impact negatively on the ‘home’ market.
      But turning the final into a truly global event, not every season but on an occasional basis, would be a significant move.
      It could also spark a bidding frenzy from US broadcasters for TV rights to the crown jewel of European club football.
      One US soccer insider told SunSport: “We’ve seen crowds of 100,000 or more for pre-season friendlies involving big European sides over here.
      “Commercially it makes all the sense in the world for Uefa to explore this.”

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      Man Utd and Tottenham WILL have home advantage for Europa League ties as Uefa give them green light to host second-legs

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      TOTTENHAM and Manchester United have got the green light from Uefa to play next week’s Europa League last-32 second legs on home soil.
      But Tottenham’s Austrian opponent Wolfsberger will have to make an indirect flight both ways to avoid quarantining when they return home.

      Manchester United face LaLiga outfit Real Sociedad in the Europe League Round of 32Credit: AP:Associated Press

      Jose Mourinho’s men will play the first leg in Budapest on Thursday after quarantine-free travel into Austria from the UK was banned.
      Similar restrictions mean United’s first leg against Real Sociedad will be played in Turin rather than in the Basque country.
      But unlike Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side, Spurs and United will be able to host next week’s matches.
      The Gunners will play both legs against Portuguese giants Benfica on neutral soil – in Rome and then Piraeus.

      Spurs’ opponents Wolfsberger, though, will have to travel to London via Slovenia, to get round Austrian restrictions.
      And while there are quarantine rules for travel between the UK and Spain, because Sociedad will have spent less than 48 hours in Manchester, they are not bound by the requirements so can play at Old Trafford.
      It remains unclear whether Liverpool will be allowed to host their second leg against Leipzig at Anfield.
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      Tottenham will pit their wits against Wolfsberger in the Europa League knockout stagesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But at this stage it does seem likely that Jurgen Klopp’s side will have to find a venue on continental Europe as a result of local Covid restrictions in Saxony.
      They do not apply to Monchengladbach, based in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, who are set to be able to travel to the Etihad.
      And the Spanish regulations should also ensure Atletico Madrid, who have given up home advantage and will meet Chelsea in Bucharest next week, also fly to London for the second leg in March.

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      Fans could attend FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals at Wembley with FA hoping to have 27k supporters at Euro 2020 games

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      FANS could be allowed in to watch the two domestic cup finals – in a trial to help ensure supporters for Euro 2020.
      The FA is determined to open up some of the Wembley turnstiles for the seven games due to be played in the stadium during the tournament in June and July.

      Scenes of fans spaced out across Wembley Stadium may be welcomed back in the springCredit: Graham Hughes – The Times

      And that could see up to 10,000 supporters in for the April 29 Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Spurs and the FA Cup final the following month.
      Both events would be staging posts towards the summer, with the FA hoping to be able to fill 30 per cent of Wembley’s 90,000 capacity by the Euros.
      FA chiefs are part of the Government’s Sports Technology Innovation Group, headed by Carphone Warehouse founder David Ross.
      Discussions over the past year have included concepts such as digital Covid passports for spectators, with football bosses signalling their willingness to act as “guinea pigs” for the safe re-opening of the country.

      And even getting reduced numbers in to Wembley in the spring would be a huge staging post in the right direction.
      Expectations of a lifting of Covid restrictions in the coming weeks will make the possibility of reopening turnstiles more realistic, although there is no expectation of fans being back in Prem grounds before next season.
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      The FA is understood to have told Uefa it hopes to be able to allow in around 27,000 – representing 30 per cent of capacity – for the Euros, although Wembley will still be used to hold matches if no supporters are allowed in.

      That would be part of a gradual easing of crowd restrictions at other sporting events, including Test cricket, Wimbledon and summer horse racing events like the Derby.
      Government approval would be required for all such measures but trials for the two finals would also allow sports governing bodies to judge the ease and efficiency of entry regulations which could be rolled out across other events.

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      Arsenal left in limbo as embarrassed Uefa chiefs seek THIRD venue for Europa League second-leg tie with Benfica

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      EMBARRASSED Uefa chiefs are now seeking a THIRD venue for Arsenal’s Europa League second leg tie with Benfica.
      Euro bosses announced that the first leg between the sides next Thursday would be moved from Lisbon to Rome because Portugal is on the UK ‘red list’ requiring ten days of hotel quarantine.

      Arsenal are still waiting to hear where they will play their Europa League second leg against BenficaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Arsenal then confirmed Uefa had agreed their ‘home’ leg on February 25 would instead be played at Olympiakos’ Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, the port of Athens.
      But within hours, Arsenal were forced to delete their statement after Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced an Athens-wide lockdown would come into effect immediately until the end of the month.
      That will force Arsenal and Uefa to scramble to find another alternative host that will allow both clubs into the country for the tie.
      The latest Euro venue farce comes after Uefa announced Chelsea’s Champions League away tie with Atletico Madrid will be played in Romania, at Bucharest’s Arena Nationala.

      Spanish government Covid restrictions on travel from the UK meant that Thomas Tuchel’s squad were unable to fly to Madrid to play the La Liga leaders in the Wanda Metropolitano.
      Atletico told Uefa that Bucharest was their preferred choice if a switch was necessary.
      Diego Simeone’s side beat fellow Spaniards Athletic Bilbao there to win the 2012 Europa League.
      The decision means that all of the three English clubs in the Champions League last 16 will play their ‘away’ legs on neutral territory.

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      Both Liverpool and Manchester City will travel to Budapest’s Puskas Arena for their games against Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach respectively
      Manchester United’s Europa League last 32 first leg against Real Sociedad has been moved to Turin.
      It means only Spurs – who meet Austrians Wolfsberger – and Leicester, who play Slavia Prague, will play their next European ties as originally scheduled.
      However, apart from Arsenal, all the English teams will have home advantage for the return legs, although all those games will remain behind closed doors.
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      Man Utd and Liverpool face grilling over their role in breakaway European Super League plans

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      BOTH Liverpool and Manchester United face a virtual grilling on Thursday over alleged involvement in plans for a breakaway European Super League.
      LaLiga chief Javier Tebas’ claims that United owner Joel Glazer and Anfield’s John Henry have been colluding with Real Madrid, AC Milan and Fifa boss Gianni Infantino have struck a chord with Prem rivals.

      Spanish top-flight supremo Javier Tebas claimed Man Utd and Liverpool plotted with Fifa President Gianni Infantino over a new league

      Glazer is not expected to attend today’s virtual meeting of the 20 shareholder clubs, leaving United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward in the line of fire.
      Woodward has maintained he is working with Uefa to help formulate the future shape of European football.
      The United boss is part of a committee, which has been convened by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin to design the new model.
      Prem clubs, especially those outside the Big Six who risk being locked out of the breakaway closed-shop elite, accuse the North-West giants of playing both sides.

      Plans for a formal launch of the Super League concept, worth an initial £3.5billion between the 15 “founder clubs”, have been put on hold amid issues over the structure of the proposed competition.
      But the divisive issue, along with big questions for League chief Richard Masters over the pace of a “Strategic Review” into the Prem’s future, will dominate the meeting.
      FRENCH FARCE
      FRENCH football is facing a financial crisis after Ligue 1 chiefs failed to find a big enough bidder for TV rights.
      Ligue 1 attracted bids from Amazon, Discovery and DAZN for live rights to 80 per cent of games after original bid winner Mediapro was stripped of them in December.

      Mediapro had promised £717million a year — but the deal was scrapped as the money did not appear.
      But all new bids were rejected as they failed to meet the bottom line, leaving clubs looking at a financial black hole.
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      Bayern Munich hold secret meeting with Dayot Upamecano in bid to beat Man Utd and Chelsea to £38m transfer

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      BAYERN MUNICH have held a secret meeting with Dayot Upamecano’s representatives, according to reports in Germany.
      The highly-rated RB Leipzig defender is said to be a target for several big clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

      Upamecano, 22, is said to have interested Bayern, Liverpool, Manchester United and ChelseaCredit: AFP or licensors

      According to German newspaper Bild, Upamecano’s agents were seen entering the underground car park of Bayern’s offices on Thursday.
      The club’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has publicly expressed an interest in the defender.
      He told Sky Sport in Germany: “Upamecano to Bayern? Of course we are thinking about him. We had a good meeting with his agents yesterday. Let’s see what happens.”
      The 22-year-old has impressed since joining Leipzig from fellow Red Bull-owned club Salzburg in 2017.

      He was named in the Champions League Squad of the Season in 2019-20 and made his France debut against Sweden in September.
      Due to a release clause in his contract, Upamecano is available for just £38m this summer.
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      Liverpool are rumoured to be interested in the defender and his Leipzig colleague Ibrahima Konate.

      Jurgen Klopp is also said to be keen on taking New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long on loan to fix his defensive problems.
      The Liverpool manager has been without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip for large parts of the season due to injury.

      But Manchester United could still make a £55m move for Upamecano this transfer window and scupper Klopp’s plans.
      New Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is also said to be a huge fan of the France international and may battle United, Liverpool and Bayern for his signature.
      If Upamecano does not move this transfer window, he and Leipzig will face Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League next month.

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