European football governing body, UEFA has shifted the Euro 2020, originally scheduled for June this year to 2021 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision would be a huge relieve to many countries in Europe whose national leagues have been danger of being abandoned.
Most football leagues in Europe, including the English Premier League, the Spanish and Italian leagues were suspended last week till the beginning of April as part efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
UEFA has been holding an emergency video conference involving major stakeholders on Tuesday.
A report by BBC Sports said the Norwegian FA disclosed that it was decided that the tournament will now take place from 11 June to 11 July next year.
The decision will be signed off by Uefa later on Tuesday, the BBC reported.
The tournament was due to take place from 12 June-12 July this year at 12 venues across Europe.
The postponement provides a chance for European leagues that have been suspended to now be completed.
Uefa’s Nations League and the European Under-21 Championships are also scheduled to take place next summer.
The 2021 Uefa Women’s European Championship is set to take place in England and begins on 7 July, four days before the proposed men’s final.
The Norwegian FA, whose side are yet to qualify for the tournament, posted the announcement on Twitter, with Uefa yet to confirm the delay.
Many of Europe’s domestic leagues – as well as the Champions League and Europa League – have been suspended following an increasing number of coronavirus cases around the continent.
Players and coaches have also been affected by virus or been told to go into self-isolation, meaning leagues have had to shut down.
A mini-tournament to decide the Champions League and Europa League is expected to be one option put forward at Tuesday’s meeting to ease fixture congestion caused by the coronavirus crisis.
