Turkey pulls out of race to host Euro 2020

Turkey was the first candidate country to add itself to the hosting race in 2020, before European football’s governing body, UEFA, decided to change the format.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has pulled out of the race to host the semi-final and final of the 2020 European Football Championship, Turkish media reported on April 25.

The TFF said it was withdrawing due to the “changed format.” As part of this format, matches in the tournament will be played in countries across the continent for the first time ever.

Turkey was the first candidate country to add itself to the hosting race in 2020, before European football’s governing body, UEFA, decided to change the format.

Turkey had also bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games, with Istanbul racing against Tokyo and Madrid. Both UEFA President Michel Platini and then-International Olympic Committee (IOC) Chairman Jacques Rogge criticized Turkey for bidding for two major events in one summer.

Istanbul eventually lost out on the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo.

The TFF’s announcement that it is pulling out of the 2020 European Football Championship hosting bid came after both Switzerland and France announced that they were pulling out of the race.

The Swiss Football Federation (SFF) announced that it had decided not pursue its bid to have the St. Jakob-Park stadium in the northern city of Basel included on the 13-venue list due to be drawn up by the sport’s European governing body UEFA, Agence France-Presse reported.  

Earlier this week, France, the Czech Republic and Poland also pulled out of the race, but Belgium confirmed that Brussels would officially be presented as a candidate city.

UEFA will announce the 13 cities set to play host to the tournament in September.