Euro 2020 format unfair on fans because of travel inequalities, says Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin
Euro 2020 has been unfair for fans and a challenge for teams because of the vast difference in distances they have had to travel during the tournament, says Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.
England play Italy in Sunday's final at Wembley after a championship that has been played in cities in 11 countries.
Switzerland travelled the furthest, 15,485km (9,622 miles), while Scotland clocked up the shortest at 1,108km.
"I would not support it anymore," Ceferin told BBC Sport.
Speaking to BBC sports editor Dan Roan on a special Euro 2020 episode of The Sports Desk podcast, Ceferin conceded the format had been "too challenging".
He added: "In a way, it is not correct that some teams have to travel more than 10,000km while others have to only travel 1,000km.
"It is not fair to fans, who had to be in Rome one day and in Baku over the next few, which is a four and a half hour flight.
"We had to travel a lot, into countries with different jurisdictions, different currencies, countries in the European Union (EU) and Non-EU, so it was not easy.
"It was a format that was decided before I came [into post] and I respect it. It is an interesting idea but it is hard to implement and I don't think we will do it again."
Matches have been held in London, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, St Petersburg, Seville, Munich, Baku, Rome, Bucharest and Budapest.
Belgium, knocked out in the quarter-finals, travelled the second furthest at 10, 245km.
The format was called a "joke" by Wales captain Chris Gunter after his side were beaten in the last-16 by Denmark in Amsterdam, having travelled a total of 9,156km. They played their first two group games in Baku, Azerbaijan, before heading to Rome for their final group game.
Finalists England and Italy both played their three group games at home in London and Rome.
England, who also played their last-16 and semi-final games at Wembley have only travelled 3,874km in the tournament, for their quarter-final against Ukraine in Rome.
Italy, who played their last-16 game at Wembley before going to Munich for their quarter-final win over Belgium, and returning to London for the semi-final and final, have travelled 4,714km.
However, Ceferin also said Euro 2020, the first under his tenure, was the "most interesting" European Championship.
The tournament had been delayed by a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic and Ceferin said thorough testing at all venues has prevented any significant outbreak between any of the players.
"It has been a special Euros, for sure," the 53-year-old Slovenian added. "I will remember it as the beginning of normality and the return of fans.
"I have never seen a dramatic Euros like this one, with great matches and surprising results.
"Our health protocols are extremely tough, and everyone is tested, even those who have been vaccinated. I was tested 76 times.
"The teams are highly professional and they all respect the bubble system. Also, in the stadiums, we are very strict and when I see politicians saying people were infected at the matches, without any proof, it disappoints me a bit.
"Some say 2,000 Scottish fans were infected, but the Scottish fans who went to the match [against England at Wembley] were tested.
"There were also 20,000 who came to London without tickets. You are not tested in the park, but to accuse all football of spreading the virus is irresponsible in my opinion."
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57778285
