UEFA to target European World Cup in 2030

Cardiff, Wales, June 1, (GNA/dpa) - UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has called on Europe to step into the battle to host the 2030 World Cup while video evidence in the Champions League will have to wait.

Speaking to media after an executive committee meeting of the European football governing body in Cardiff on Thursday, Ceferin said it was "Europe's turn in 2030 so we will fight for a European host."

The 2018 World Cup is being held in Russia, 2022 in Qatar and 2026 is likely to be jointly held in the United States, Mexico and Canada when the tournament expands to 48 teams.

China has expressed early interest in 2030 though world governing body FIFA rules would prevent the competition returning to Asia for that edition. Uruguay and Argentina are also considering a joint bid for 2030 to mark the centenary of the first tournament Uruguay.

Meanwhile, Ceferin said there is still no timescale for introducing video evidence to the Champions League as television pictures would "not yet" be used to assist referees.

"But we have to think about it," he said. "We know what has happened this season."

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge renewed calls for television evidence to assist referees after his team was controversially eliminated from the tournament by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

"We have to wait on results from the tests," UEFA competition director Giorgio Marchetti added.

FIFA has approved video assistance for referees at the upcoming Confederations Cup in Russia while the Bundesliga will test the system next season.

On Thursday UEFA also said the president's award for this year would go to Francesco Totti, who will leave Roma as a player after 25 seasons with the Italian club.

"He's simply phenomenal and I am sure he deserves the president's award," Ceferin said.

The president's award "recognizes outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities," Ceferin said. It is not awarded every year and Totti is the 17th awardee, joining recipients such as Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio and Alfredo Di Stefano.

Ceferin said UEFA would also look into the creation of a European hall of fame in the coming months.

GNA