Blatter not a fan of Euro 2020 format

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hit out at UEFA’s initiative to organise Euro 2020 in 13 different cities rather than one country.

The 2020 championships will be held in multiple nations all over Europe to mark 60 years of the tournament’s existence, a decision that has received its fair share of criticism over the past few months, and Blatter would prefer the tournament to be held in one country, too.

“I once told Michel Platini that Colonel Gaddafi presented a similar plan when he was bidding for the 2010 World Cup. He really believes in this idea, but I said it was out of the question. So Platini’s idea is nothing new,” Blatter told Kicker.

“A tournament should be played in just one country, that creates a certain identity and euphoria. Just look at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

“It will not really be a European championship in the new format. You’ll have to look at it in another way, although I don’t know how exactly. A Euros like this misses heart and soul for me.”

The host cities for Euro 2020 will be announced by UEFA in September 2014.