Platini expects big support for Euro 2020 plan

PanARMENIAN.Net - European football supremo Michel Platini expects big support when his plan of a pan-European Euro 2020 tournament is discussed by the UEFA executive committee next month.

The UEFA president Platini said in an interview with Friday's, Nov 16 edition of Germany's Bild daily that the idea is "to bring the Euro to the people and not the people to the Euro," and that a tournament in existing venues in several countries was easier to achieve in difficult economic times.

"I have the feeling that there is a big majority for this plan ... A decision can then come quickly if there is a majority," Platini said, looking ahead at the executive committee meeting on December 6.

The plan, first floated by Platini at Euro 2012, is reportedly to play the tournament in 13 cities across the continent.

Twelve cities are to stage group games and first knock-out stages, chosen by qualification of teams and the FIFA world rankings. The 13th city, for which Istanbul is said to be the frontrunner, would host the semifinals and final of the 24-team event.

"We want to bring the Euro to the people and not the people to the Euro," Platini told Bild. "A Euro in the whole of Europe will allow those countries to participate who could not stage a Euro (on their own). We would bring the Euro to the whole of Europe. That is a wonderful thing in times of crisis."

Platini has received some positive feedback from national federations while fan representatives fear a lack of atmosphere in such an event and high travel costs.

Euro 2012 was hosted in Poland and Ukraine and the 2016 edition, expanded from 16 to 24 teams, takes place in Platini's home country of France.