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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker & Jonathan McFarlane

UEFA power broker brands Euro 2020 Hampden move claims 'nonsense' as he insists 12 nation plan is only option

UEFA Executive Committee member Zbigniew Boniek reckons there is no chance Euro 2020 matches will be moved away from Hampden.

The Polish FA's president is sure Scotland will be able to host the four games that have long been planned.

Steve Clarke 's side face two home games against Czech Republic and Croatia in Mount Florida in the showpiece competition.

UEFA are due to make a final decision on the hosting of the tournament on April 5, but reports leaked out last week that suggested they were seriously considering moving the entire tournament to England, instead of their current plan of 12 venues hosting the event.

However, former Juventus star Boniek, who is one of UEFA's most influential figures, has dismissed any chance of the tournament being moved at this late stage.

He said: "The report was pure speculation. There has been no such decision to move it to one country.

"I am on the executive committee at UEFA and every day I talk privately with the people who organise this tournament and I can assure you that this is nonsense.

"Apparently, the tournament will be moved entirely to England, a month ago it was Russia. Why not Poland too!

"In my opinion, it is actually easier to organise a tournament in twelve countries than in one because this way, you can be more flexible at this difficult time.

"People who say we have to move the tournament have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. It would be a gigantic, complicated thing to do and would cost UEFA big money.

"The current 12-venue format is the only feasible way to host it."

But Boniek admitted he wouldn't predict how many, if any, fans would be at the different venues.

He pointed out: "It's very difficult to say how many fans will be in because UEFA has nothing to do with it.

"It all depends on the Governments of individual countries. No one really knows how it will be in six weeks' time. Maybe the situation will be better, maybe worse."

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