Top 9 little-known facts about Euro 2021

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) implemented several new regulations for Euro 2021 due to the impact of Covid-19.

1. The Champion Team Will Not Receive the Official Trophy

The Euro championship trophy is named after Henri Delaunay, the former Secretary-General of the French Football Federation. He proposed organizing the tournament in 1927, but the first Euro was held in 1960, five years after Delaunay’s death.

This trophy is awarded to the winning team of the final match. However, after the crowning ceremony, the champion team will receive a replica that matches the size, weight, and shape of the original trophy, which remains with UEFA.

Additionally, the organizers will issue 40 gold medals and 40 silver medals to the two teams in the final to distribute to players and staff. Each team will also receive a commemorative plaque.

2. Penalty Shootouts Can Occur from the Group Stage

If two teams in the same group have equal head-to-head records, goal differences, goals scored, and number of wins, their positions will be determined by a penalty shootout. However, this criterion does not apply if more than two teams are tied on points and stats. In such cases, fair play points will be considered. The team with the fewer total penalty points will advance, with one point for a yellow card and three points for a red card.

3. Replays

If a match cannot be started or completed, the two teams will continue playing the next day, if possible at the same venue. This match will resume from the point it was stopped, with the same score and ball position.

Teams are allowed to make changes to their players for the replay or continuation (must be listed in the original match registration) with the following exceptions:

• A player who is suspended, sent off, or substituted in the interrupted match will not participate.
• A team with one or more players sent off must continue with that reduced number.
• Teams can only make the remaining substitutions they were entitled to when the match was canceled.
• Yellow cards from the canceled match remain valid when continuing.

4. Player Additions Due to Covid-19

To guard against teams having players infected with Covid-19 and quarantined, UEFA allowed teams to register 26 players for Euro 2021. However, coaches must finalize a list of 23 players for each match.

After announcing the tournament roster, teams can make unlimited substitutions before the opening match in case of serious injury, illness, or Covid-19. A goalkeeper can be replaced throughout the tournament if they lack fitness. Spain was the first team to utilize this advantage by calling up an additional 17 players, including goalkeeper Kepa, after two Covid-19 cases involving Sergi Busquets and Diego Llorente.

Teams will be allowed to substitute five players per match, with a sixth substitute only permitted during extra time. However, each team can only use a maximum of three stoppages for substitutions.

5. Pre-Match Arrival Times

Both teams must arrive at the stadium at least 75 minutes before the match begins. This is also the deadline for teams to submit their match lists to the organizers. Each team’s national anthem is also limited to a duration of 90 seconds.

6. The Importance of Passports

Players participating in Euro 2021 need to pay special attention to their passports as the organizers will conduct thorough checks. Regulation 46.02 states: “Each player participating in the tournament must have a valid passport or national identity card from the country they are representing, with a photo and complete details about their date of birth (day, month, year). If not, the player will not be allowed to participate in the tournament.” The Turkish national team adhered strictly to this regulation when arriving in Rome, Italy on June 9 to prepare for their opening match in Group A against the host nation, Italy, on June 11.

7. Jersey Numbers

The jersey numbers of players on a team are marked from 1 to 26, according to the 26 players registered for the tournament. The number one belongs to the goalkeeper, and the remaining 25 numbers are distributed according to each team’s preference.

Additionally, according to Regulation 56.02, teams must prepare an extra goalkeeper jersey without a name or number, and the color must match that of the goalkeeper’s jersey, in case outfield players need to substitute during the match.

8. Post-Match Interviews

After each match, one player from each team along with the coach is required to answer interviews right on the field with the host broadcaster or the broadcaster holding the main television rights.

The regulations also state that the coach and at least four key players, who significantly influence the outcome for each team, must participate in interviews within 15 minutes after the match concludes.

9. Maintaining Distance in the Technical Area

Each team is allowed a maximum of 18 individuals on the bench: 12 players and six officials, including one team doctor. The two teams also have an additional five technical seats for technical support staff. Each person must sit according to the required distance regulations.

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