UEFA president reveals deadline Premier League and EFL season could be ‘lost’ as talks continue on if the season can continue or not.
They are trying to come up with a potential calendar for federations to follow after the coronavirus pandemic forced all of its major leagues to halt, well, all except Belarus.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin admits the European football season "would probably be lost" if it doesn't restart by the end of June at the latest.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 28, 2020
Aleksander Ceferin says there are multiple scenarios to consider, but he could not assure it will be possible to bring the current season to an end, with everything depending on how the pandemic will evolve.
“Nobody knows when the pandemic will end,” he told Italian daily La Repubblica. “We have a plan A, B or C: to restart in mid-May, in June or at the end of June.
“If then we wouldn’t be able to do any of these, the season would probably be lost. There is also the possibility of ending this season at the start of the next, which would then be postponed, starting a little later.
“We’re in touch with the leagues, the clubs, there is a working group and we’ll see what solution is best for all. We have to wait, like any other sector.”
In England, the Football Association has already decided to declare the season null and void for non-League divisions below the National Leagues North and South.
The uncertainty around the continuation of the football season has thrown up a range of issues, including the fates of out-of-contract players, staff and sponsor payments and the Champions League and Europa League finals.
Ceferin says at the moment there is no indication as to whether the continental competitions will have their finals closed to the public.
“It’s difficult to imagine all the games behind closed doors, but right now we don’t even know if we will resume, with or without fans,” he said.
“If there are no other alternatives, it would still be better to conclude the leagues. I can say that I’m not thinking about staging the European cup finals behind closed doors.
“In this dramatic moment, the most important thing is health, and to get out of this crisis. The interruption of football symbolises that Europe and the world have stopped.
“European football is strongly united.”
Fans reacted on twitter as the UEFA president reveals deadline Premier League and EFL season could be ‘lost’…
Actually plenty of fans would like to see it. All interest lost.
— Ant⚒ (@AnthonyCarney83) March 29, 2020
We are staying up ??
— Villa Forever ?????????⚽️ (@VillaForeve11) March 28, 2020
If you can't complete the season then you can't just give out plaudits.
— Mike (@mickmccarthy0) March 28, 2020
June not realistic. Restart season in August. Scrap cups. Finish by mid Sept. Two weeks for play offs. Start new season on 1st Oct. Scaleback CL & Europa lge. Keep domestic cups to benefit L1 and L2 clubs. Finish by end of May.
— Adrian Foster (@FosterAdrian) March 28, 2020
Finish them when it is safe to do so and all European countries are aligned. If that means starting again in November then do that and cancel next season and look at starting the following one earlier
— Peter-C1983 (@Peter_Courtenay) March 28, 2020
If they scrap the current season they should carry the points over to the next one so that all that effort isn't lost
— Keith Oswin (@keith_oswin) March 28, 2020
I absolutely & completely agree with you. I'd much rather conclude 19/20 & scrap 20/21.
*BUT* I can see that happening for one reason – money. Scrapping last the 10 games of this season or scrapping all 38 next season?
Clubs need to ticket, TV, shirt revenue 20/21 would bring
— Andrew Savory (@adsavory) March 28, 2020
You must be logged in to post a comment Login