European football faces a defining day as the continent’s governing body UEFA consults on how best for the sport to deal with the coronavirus crisis.

One of the key decisions to be taken will be whether to postpone Euro 2020 until the summer of 2021, with the intention of allowing 2019/20 competitions that have been suspended following the Covid-19 outbreak at least the chance to be completed.

A number of national associations contacted by the PA news agency which are due to host matches this summer are understood to be ready to do all they can to assist, if the consensus is that the tournament be postponed.

The Italian federation’s president, Gabriele Gravina, has stated his preferred view would be for the tournament to be either delayed until later this year or until next summer.

His country is currently in lockdown and all football activity suspended until at least April 4.

Meetings will begin this morning and an announcement on any decision is not expected until mid to late afternoon. It is expected that the UEFA leadership, including president Aleksander Ceferin, will be involved in a number of conference calls.

The UEFA hierarchy has invited input from the European Club Association, the European Leagues umbrella body and world players’ union FIFPRO, with the views of those groups potentially to be sought on one call.

Ceferin and his executive team are then expected to speak via conference call to the member associations - all 55 have been invited to join.

Finally, the process is set to conclude with a call featuring members of UEFA’s executive committee.

As well as the Euros, another key discussion will be how, and if, the Champions League and Europa League competitions can be completed.