According to chief of sports reporter for The Times Martyn Ziegler, women's soccer fans will have to wait until the Summer to find out when the Women's Euro 2021 will take place.
The Women's Euro 2021 was scheduled to be played from July 7 through August 1. But it seems highly unlikely that the competition will be played in the summer of 2021 given UEFA's proposed dates for the Euro 2020 that range from June 11, 2021, through July 11.
"Decisions on dates for other UEFA competitions, whether club or national team for men or women, will be taken and announced in due course," is how UEFA ended its statement.
It is now a waiting game for lovers of the women's game. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin did mention women's European soccer in his statement.
"Moving EURO 2020 comes at a huge cost for UEFA but we will do our best to ensure that the vital funding for grassroots, women's football and the development of the game in our 55 countries is not affected," Ceferin said.
Also, all UEFA competitions and matches for clubs and international teams have been postponed until further notice as expected. This includes the remainder of women's domestic and European competitions, as well as international friendlies.
The women's soccer community was left in the dark and, as always, was quick to speak their mind on Twitter.
Given the new proposed end date for the Men's Euro on July 11, 2021, it would overlap the Women's Euro, which is supposed to start on July 7. The Girls on the Ball Twitter account asked the question that everyone is asking.
So the men's Euros has been postponed to 2021, finishing 4 days after the proposed start to the women's... so whats going to happen to @WEUROEngland21? https://t.co/DYACzCzZcB
— Girls on the Ball (@GirlsontheBall) March 17, 2020
Having the Women's Euro play during and after the Men's Euro would not be the best option logistically given.
Don't think it's a good idea to start the women's tournament in the latter stages of the men's. Pushing the start date by a week could work. Men's final at Wembley on the 11th & opener at Old Trafford on the 14th but not sure of the feasibility of that logistically. https://t.co/UM0fLCS09r
— Girls on the Ball (@GirlsontheBall) March 17, 2020
UEFA will assess all these questions and date clashes with time and get back to women's soccer fans in the summer.
Reactions
The backlash began even before UEFA's official announcement. We can all agree that Olivia would be a great WoSo leader. She is assembling the army early.
Many share the same thought as Dani's.
i don't want the woso euros in 2022
— dani (@dogsforchristen) March 17, 2020
Some England fans are welcoming the news with open arms. Not officially confirmed yet, though.
Women's EURO 2021 now scheduled to be 2022. Well at least we have a bit longer to sort out the mess the Lionesses are currently in!!!!
— Laura Kelly (@LauraKe09761602) March 17, 2020
And yes, Hope. Today has felt like sitting at a blackjack table in a casino for the first time. Madness.
The deck is getting reshuffled in world football https://t.co/75nhdH6nrb
— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) March 17, 2020