SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach welcomes the request from t-online columnist Berti Vogts after postponing the European Football Championship due to the Corona crisis – but fears an even more drastic decision: “I think it’s good that Berti Vogts is expressing the idea of a postponement. But I believe that the EM will be canceled completely because we will have a situation in March that is in many European countries will be worse than today, “Lauterbach told t-online. “It will all work out – unfortunately – by itself. In March we could experience a situation in which hardly anyone would even think of hosting a European Football Championship.”

In an urgent appeal in his column, Vogts had previously asked the organizers of the tournament to reconsider the planned implementation for the summer – in twelve countries. “Postpones the European Football Championship – otherwise it will be too late,” wrote the former national coach. An EM in just a few months is “illusory”. Lauterbach agrees: “In Europe we cannot assume that we will have sufficient vaccine by the middle of the year.” If a tournament is actually possible in June, it is “most likely” that there will only be ghost games.

However, Lauterbach does not consider a postponement to December suggested by Vogts, because then more fans could possibly be in the stadiums. “I am not sure that we will see major events with many spectators again in winter 2021. I think it’s basically possible, but I’m not sure.”

The current situation in the pandemic is too uncertain. “It may very well be that we will have the mutation everywhere in Europe by the summer. And as early as March, the form of hosting the European Football Championship should be discussed (all information on this can be read here; Note d. Red.) Be decided. Personally, I believe that we will have a very bad situation in March – across Europe. “