FIFA unveils biennial World Cup plan, UEFA threatens boycott
FIFA detailed its plan for reshaping international soccer around playing the men’s World Cup every two years despite European opposition that could lead to a boycott. Joined by retired greats, FIFA unveiled the proposal Thursday but the pushback from Europe was immediate as UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin confirmed it could launch a boycott by its teams which have dominated soccer’s marquee event since Brazil won in 2002. About 80 former internationals including World Cup winners went to Qatar for two days of FIFA-hosted talks and emerged with consensus for playing the tournament twice as often.
news.yahoo.comOlympic athletes to put on own medals at Tokyo ceremonies
Athletes at the Tokyo Olympics will put their medals around their own necks to protect against spreading the coronavirus. The “very significant change” to traditional medal ceremonies in the 339 events was revealed Wednesday by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach. “The medals will not be given around the neck,” Bach told international media on a conference call from Tokyo.
news.yahoo.comUEFA postpones Euro 2020 by 1 year because of pandemic
FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 file photo the Euro soccer championships trophy is seen in front of the logo during the presentation of Munich's logo as one of the host cities of the Euro 2020 European soccer championships in Munich, Germany. UEFA, are set to make a final decision when the UEFA executive committee meets on Tuesday March 17, 2020 after talks with clubs and leagues, about possibly delaying the Euro 2020 soccer tournament by a year as the continent grapples with the outbreak of the coronavirus. Euro 2020 became Euro 2021 in a major shift for an international soccer calendar that is on lockdown because of the coronavirus outbreak and with no clear end in sight. “Moving Euro 2020 comes at a huge cost for UEFA,” Ceferin said in a statement. Euro 2020 was scheduled to be played in a dozen countries from Ireland to Azerbaijan, and Russia to Italy.