UEFA defends decision to award event to Belarus after FIFPro criticism Sunday, 9 May 2021 UEFA has defended its decision to award one of its events to Belarus amid criticism from the global players union. European football's governing body has bucked the recent trend of moving major sports events out of the country amid the Government crackdown on protestors, including athletes, who have demonstrated against controversial President Alexander Lukashenko. UEFA recently announced Belarus would stage the Women’s Under-19 European Championship in 2025 after it missed out on hosting the same event this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Belarus had also been set to hold the Futsal Champions League Finals before UEFA moved the event from Minsk to Zadar in Croatia after citing coronavirus concerns.