This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is optimistic about the future of football, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 20, 2020, Ceferin expressed his confidence that 'good old football with fans will come back very soon.'
Domestic and continental club competitions were halted across Europe in mid-March due to the pandemic, and Euro 2020 was postponed.
However, Ceferin is sure that the situation will soon improve, and football will return to normal.
When asked whether he would bet a million dollars that Euro 2020 would be played in 2021, Ceferin replied, 'Yes, I would. I don't know why it wouldn't be.'
He also expressed his skepticism about the idea that the virus will last forever, saying, 'I don't think that this virus will last forever. I think it will (change) sooner than many think.'
Ceferin emphasized that football will follow the recommendations of the authorities but is optimistic that normal service can be resumed in the near future.
He also stated that he does not expect the game to be profoundly changed by the coronavirus, saying, 'Football didn't change after the Second World War, or First World War, and it will not change because of a virus either.'
