The International Football Federations Thread

[Lineker]

The 2020 European Championship finals will be held in a number of cities across Europe, Uefa has announced.

It means there will be no one country hosting the tournament, which will have expanded to 24 teams by then.

The Football Association has already put forward Wembley to European governing body Uefa as a possible venue for the final.

Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland have also expressed their interest to Uefa in staging matches.

Uefa's executive committee took the decision at a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday.

Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino told a press conference after the meeting: "Some important decisions have been taken.

"Uefa Euro 2020 will be staged across the continent, in various major cities, following a decision taken today. A Euro for Europe follows an initial idea by Uefa president Michel Platini.

"The response has been extremely positive from all the national associations."

Infantino added the bidding process for the host cities would start in March and decisions would be made in the spring of 2014.

Platini, who won the tournament in 1984 with France, floated the idea as a way of avoiding high costs at a time of financial hardship in many countries.

Higher-than-expected costs and building delays caused problems for the 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

[ZJ Penn]

Interesting idea. Presumably certain cities will get certain groups then? So players arent flying from Moscow to Madrid.

[stokeriño]

I bet each group will have its games kept in one 'area' but still hop borders, so a team might play their three in Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary...or something.

Still an arse for your average fan, but then the Euros are going to be a clusterfuck with the new 24 team format anyway, so why not turn it up to 11.

[Colly]

Urgh.

[therockbox]

what a shit idea.

[Rafael]

Wrong thread.

Edited December 7, 2012 by RafaelFms

[Gazz]

What's the betting France get all their group games in France?

[stokeriño]

What's the betting France get all their group games in France?

One in France, one in...Monaco...the other in...um, west France.

[Adam]

What's the betting France get all their group games in France?

One in France, one in...Monaco...the other in...um, west France.

Andorra!

Even though that's more Spanish

[METALMAN]

To be fair, I think the French would rather play as far away from their own fans as is possible.

[Hobo]

They should just choose a region to host. Say the UK and Ireland. Then spread the games over Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.

I'd rather that than spreading the competion all over Europe.

[stokeriño]

It's simply Platini's escape route from putting his foot in it and naming Turkey as the preferred bidder. Oh wait, everybody else withdraws their bids so as not to waste money. Oh wait, Turkey are going to bid for the 2020 Olympics instead and won't host both. DILEMMA.

[Matt]

Better than Turkey hosting it. That's about all I can say for the idea.

[Lineker]

I hope we get to the final...in Istanbul!

[METALMAN]

Better than Turkey hosting it. That's about all I can say for the idea.

Stop being a Turkey hater. It's Christmas.

[stokeriño]

UEFA will appeal against bans set by its own disciplinary body

I just...I don't...what?

[Lineker]

I think this sums it up:

[Adam]

This is a good thing to be fair.

[Colly]

It certainly is.

[Lineker]

Fifa has ordered Hungary and Bulgaria to play their next 2014 World Cup qualifiers behind closed doors after racist incidents involving their fans.

Hungary supporters were reported for making anti-Semetic chants during their friendly against Israel in August.

Bulgaria were also sanctioned following racist remarks directed at a Denmark player during their World Cup qualifier in October.

Fifa also fined the Bulgarian FA £23,685 and the Hungarian FA £27,051.

A Fifa statement said: "We strongly condemn all forms of racism in football, and any form of discrimination will not be tolerated and will receive a strong response by the relevant authorities.

"The members of the Fifa disciplinary committee were unanimous in condemning an abhorrent episode of racism, anti-Semitism, and of political provocative and aggressive nature perpetrated by supporters of the Hungarian national team."

Bulgaria fans reportedly made monkey chants at Denmark defender Patrick Mtiliga on 12 October, while Hungary fans displayed Iran flags to insult Israel in Budapest.

The two countries are currently in second place in their respective World Cup qualifying groups, which would be enough to earn a place in the European play-offs in November.

Fifa has also warned both nations that any repeat of the racist incidents could lead to them forfeiting a match, a points deduction or disqualification from a competition.