Football will not change after the pandemic, even the world wars have not been able to change it, and Euro 2020 - although postponed for a year - will be played with absolute certainty. "I'm ready to bet a million on it." The reassurance comes from Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA president, convinced that the worst for continental football has now passed.
By May, UEFA awaits the decisions of the individual Federations about the resumption of the national championships - even if it has already announced a tolerance that in fact moves that deadline to mid-June -, while the conclusion of the Champions and Europa League is expected in August. And the return of the third cup is expected for next year. A calendar that Ceferin confirms in an interview with the British newspaper Guardian, in which he says he is convinced "that football with the fans at the stadium will return very soon".
"For us as UEFA, the situation is not alarming, we are not in trouble, even if we have been forced to postpone the European Championships. But we also worry about the individual clubs and the various leagues", explained No. 1 of continental football, sure, despite "sleepless nights" in the midst of the pandemic crisis, that the European Championship will be held next year. "I can't imagine why it shouldn't. I don't think the virus will last forever. In fact, I think the situation will improve sooner than many think."
After more than two months of forced suspension, the Bundesliga inaugurated the restart of European football last weekend, albeit in empty stadiums and between strict health checks and limitations. But Ceferin does not seem to give up his optimism: "I don't think they are lasting changes. It is a new experience, but when we finally get rid of this virus the situation will return to normal. Football has not changed after World War II, nor after the First; it won't change even because of this virus. Why not think that we will become more intelligent, more aware of our fragility in the face of nature? There is a great lesson we can learn from this pandemic. "
That has not changed the plans of the European football government, determined to introduce a third club competition from next season, the Europa Conference League. "There will be no postponement of the new tournament - confirms Ceferin - Rather, we are thinking about how to introduce a sort of luxury tax for the richest clubs, so as to protect the entire football system. Now however, the priority is to straighten the ship and resume the right course ".
But there is the risk of entering a collision course with Fifa by Gianni Infantino, who wants to introduce a Club World Cup extended to 24 teams. "It is strange - observes Ceferin - that the same person who hopes for fewer matches for the players proposes a new tournament. With Infantino we didn't feel much during the pandemic, but I don't want to answer him through the media".
Ceferin's last consideration is for the players, defended by the accusation of greed for refusing, in many cases, to self-reduce their wages. "It's the market that sets the prices and let's not forget that their emoluments generate huge taxes in favor of the States. It will be interesting to see how the market will react after this crisis, if prices really do go down."