BBC and ITV win rights to show Euro 2016 and Euro 2020 free-to-air

Uefa spokesman 'delighted' at the news

Wayne Rooney is set to miss both of England's final Euro 2016 qualifiers (Getty Images)

The BBC and ITV are to broadcast the next two European Championships on free-to-air TV.

European governing body Uefa hailed a "very positive agreement" for football fans in the UK, with the two channels to show Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.

Confirmation that Uefa and their two long-term broadcast partners again splitting coverage was made on Thursday, but a Uefa spokesman said he was "delighted with the agreement.

"We are delighted to reach an agreement with the UK's leading free to air broadcasters ITV and BBC," Guy-Laurent Epstein, marketing director of UEFA Events SA, said.

"Both partners have in-depth experience of broadcasting the UEFA European Football Championship.

"Of course it is great news for English, Welsh and Northern Irish fans, who will be able to follow their respective teams' performance at UEFA EURO 2016 in an unrivalled manner through BBC's and ITV's cutting edge coverage.

"Finally yet importantly, this deal adds to the coverage and in-tournament excitement for UEFA EURO 2020, where the UK will host a total seven matches: four in Glasgow and both semi-finals and the final taking place in London at Wembley.

"All in all, this is a very positive agreement for all football fans in the UK."

Additional reporting from PA