Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin expects fans in stadiums 'sooner than many think'

Coronavirus halts domestic and continental club competitions and Euro 2020 is postponed

Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin believes stadiums will soon be filled with supporters. PA Wire

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin is confident fans will be able to return to  stadiums "sooner than many think" as football attempts to emerge from the chaos created by the coronavirus pandemic.

Domestic and continental club competitions were halted across Europe in mid-March due to the Covid-19 crisis and Euro 2020 was postponed.

The Bundesliga made a successful return to action behind closed doors at the weekend and many other leagues are preparing to resume in front of empty stands, with Ceferin sure the situation will soon improve.

Asked whether he was sure that Euro 2020 would be played in 2021, the chief of European football's governing body told The Guardian: "Yes. I don't know why it wouldn't be.

"I don't think that this virus will last forever. I think it will [change] sooner than many think.

"I don't like this apocalyptic view that we have to wait for the second and third waves or even a fifth wave."

Ceferin said football would follow the recommendations of the authorities but he was optimistic that normal service could be resumed in the near future.

"I'm absolutely sure, personally, that good old football with fans will come back very soon," he said.

And Ceferin said he did not expect the game to be profoundly changed by the coronavirus.

"Football didn't change after the Second World War, or First World War, and it will not change because of a virus either," he said.

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Bundesliga makes return inside empty stadiums

Burussia Dortmund forward Erling Braut Haaland celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Schalke at Signal Iduna Park on May 16. AFP

Dortmund's Erling Braut Haaland scores the opening goal against Schalke. AFP

Dortmund's Thorgan Hazard, left, celebrates with Julian Brandt after scoring his side's third goal. AFP

Dortmund's Thomas Delaney challenges Suat Serdar of Schalke. Getty

Dortmund's Erling Haaland, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP

Schalke manager David Wagner. Reuters

A TV cameraman wears a face mask during the match between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke. AP

Dortmund's Raphael Guerreiro scores his side's second goal. Getty

Dortmund's Thorgan Hazard scores their third goal. Reuters

Fortuna Dusseldorf defender Matthias Zimmermann is tackled by Paderborn's Sebastian Vasiliadis. The match finished 0-0. AFP

Balls are disinfected at the Dusseldorf-Paderborn game. Reuters

Fortuna Dusseldorf's players sit on the bench during the Bundesliga match at home to Paderborn. AFP

Hoffenheim's forward Ihlas Bebou, centre, misses a chance against Hertha Berlin in Sinsheim on Saturday. Hertha Berlin won the match 3-0. AP

Hertha Berlin forward Matheus Cunha celebrates after scoring their third goal against Hoffenheim. AFP

Freiburg's Manuel Gulde celebrates with Christian Gunte after scoring against RB Leipzig on Saturday. The match finished 1-1. Reuters

RB Leipzig's Spanish defender Angelino prepares to take a corner during their home match against Freiburg on Saturday. AFP

Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen, left, and Nicolas Hoefler of Freiburg. AFP

Wolfsburg defender John Brooks heads into his own net against Augsburg. The match finished 2-1 to Wolfsburg. AFP

Wolfsburg's Daniel Ginczek, left, celebrates his late winner against Augsburg. AP

Augsburg's Tin Jedvaj receives treatment during match. Getty

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Despite his optimistic outlook, Ceferin has admitted the current crisis has given him sleepless nights, with Uefa set to lose "millions and millions" of dollars after the season came to a halt.

"There is so much information [to take in] and so many calendar issues. So many millions and millions, dozens of millions of dollars, that we will lose," he said.

"It's then hard to fall asleep at night. You would be quite irresponsible if you could fall asleep immediately.

"The situation for Uefa is not that alarming, we're not in a dangerous situation, but we still care about the clubs and the leagues and the stakeholders so it is a lot of work."