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BREAKING: UEFA’s Youth League 2020/2021 has been canceled

Real Madrid v Ajax: UEFA Youth League Quarter Final
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UEFA issued a statement calling off their youth competition due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

It’s official, the biggest European youth competition has been canceled in light of Covid-19’s imposed restrictions. The committee had tried several tactics to prevent the worse from happening. However, UEFA believes it is simply not possible to go on as scheduled.

“The UEFA Executive Committee has decided to cancel the 2020/21 edition of the UEFA Youth League due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on the staging of competitions.

“The committee had initially decided last year to amend the format of the competition and to delay its start. But the various measures imposed by health authorities around Europe have continued to evolve since then. The traveling restrictions affecting participating clubs create major difficulties for organizing their matches and two clubs have already withdrawn from the competition.”

Additionally, UEFA states that the health and safety of young footballers must be prioritized. In fact, the argument was supported by the associations involved in the UEFA Youth League.

“The UEFA Executive Committee stressed that there is no possibility to further postpone the start of the competition. The health and safety of youth players must be given the highest possible priority.

“Regrettably, the conditions to restart this international youth competition are not met in the current circumstances. Both the UEFA Club Competitions Committee and the European Club Association were consulted and supported the idea to exceptionally cancel this season’s UEFA Youth League.”

At last year’s edition, Raul‘s Real Madrid side defeated Benfica and became the winners of this competition. However, the young Madridistas will now have to wait another year to defend their title.

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