UEFA exploring options after season conclusion is given priority with Euro 2020 postponement, Leeds United await next move

Euro 2020 has been postponed until the summer of 2021 in a bid to help conclude the current domestic campaign across Europe, UEFA has announced.

A statement confirmed the postponement, with the dates of June 11 to July 11, 2021 proposed.

The official announcement from European football's governing body also confirmed that the Euro 2020 play-offs, due to be played later this month, will now be played in the June 2020 international break.

UEFA said that is was giving priority to domestic leagues and European cup competitions as they attempt to ensure the current league campaigns reach a conclusion following the coronavirus outbreak.

A meeting was held with all 55 national associations on Tuesday where news was revealed that Europe's international flagship event was to be delayed this coming summer.

UEFA will now begin exploring possibilities over scenarios in which domestic football across Europe can be completed once it is safe to do so.

A statement read: "A working group has been set up with the participation of leagues and club representatives to examine calendar solutions that would allow for the completion of the current season and any other consequence of the decisions made today."

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: “It was important that, as the governing body of European football, UEFA led the process and made the biggest sacrifice.

"Moving EURO 2020 comes at a huge cost for UEFA but we will do our best to ensure that the vital funding for grassroots, women’s football and the development of the game in our 55 countries is not affected. Purpose over profit has been our guiding principle in taking this decision for the good of European football as a whole.

“Football is an uplifting and powerful force in society. The thought of celebrating a pan-European festival of football in empty stadia, with deserted fan zones while the continent sits at home in isolation, is a joyless one and one we could not accept to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the competition."

He added: "The fine detail will be worked out in the coming weeks but the basic principles have been agreed and that is a major step forward. We have all shown that we are responsible leaders. We have demonstrated solidarity and unity. Purpose over profit. We’ve achieved this today."