European football focusing on restart in July and August

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European football focusing on restart in July and August

By Brian Homewood

 

FILE PHOTO: A logo is pictured outside the UEFA in Nyon, Switzerland, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

 

(Reuters) - European football, currently at a standstill because of the coronavirus, is focusing on a restart in July and August with clubs and leagues being told that stopping competitions should "really be the last resort."

 

UEFA, the European Club Association and the European Leagues umbrella group sent a joint letter to their members on Thursday saying it was of "paramount importance" that competitions, including domestic leagues, were decided on the field.

 

The letter, seen by Reuters, was sent hours after the Belgian league abandoned the season and proclaimed Club Brugge as champions. There have also been calls from clubs in the Netherlands and Italy for those respective leagues to be called off.

 

However, the letter said that two working groups set up by UEFA -- which has agreed to postpone its flagship Euro 2020 tournament until next year -- were working on ways of extending the current season beyond the official June 30 finish. It expected to give more details by mid-May.

 

The letter said the working groups were "focusing on scenarios encompassing the months of July and August, including the possibility that the UEFA competitions restart after the completion of domestic leagues."

 

It said that a joint management of calendars was needed to coordinate the end of the current season with the start of the new one "which may be partly impacted because of the overstretch."

 

It also called on leagues around Europe to work together.

 

"Only an extraordinary coordinated effort of all competition organisers can help European football out of the crisis, recovering in full its core asset, the competitions," it said.

 

It added: "Stopping competitions should really be the last resort after acknowledging that no calendar alternative would allow to conclude the season.

 

"We are confident that football can restart in the months to come – with conditions that will be dictated by public authorities - and believe that any decision of abandoning domestic competitions is, at this stage, premature and not justified."

 

It appeared to suggest that, where competitions did not end on the field, the clubs involved might not qualify for European competition next season.

 

"Since participation in UEFA club competitions is determined by the sporting result achieved at the end of a full domestic competition, a premature termination would cast doubts about the fulfilment of such condition," it said.

 

It added that UEFA reserves the right to "assess the entitlement of clubs" to take part in the Champions League and Europa League.

 

(Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-03

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[marko kok prong]

Greed,that is what it is,scrap this season,use the present league positions to decide title winners ect,forget all cup comps that is the responsible way. At least in the premier league it is obvious who was going to win and the top 4 are unlikely to change,at the bottom well maybe they can work out some other non playing method to decide.

[kwak250]

21 hours ago, marko kok prong said:

Greed,that is what it is,scrap this season,use the present league positions to decide title winners ect,forget all cup comps that is the responsible way. At least in the premier league it is obvious who was going to win and the top 4 are unlikely to change,at the bottom well maybe they can work out some other non playing method to decide.

The only thing certain is Liverpool would win but its wide open for who gets champions league place also relegation is wide open lots can happen in 10 matches.

[jimmjam]

I know this is a little off the subject, but why dont they just play in empty stadiums no crowds. It wont be the same atmosphere but it will get it done and people will be able to enjoy some sport while stuck at home.

The WWE are doing that, i know its not really the same, but they have kept going through this virus.

[DannyCarlton]

I like the arrogance of UEFA in thinking that they will decide when football will recommence. I didn't realise that they had executive power over the respective governments of the countries under their umbrella, who might want to have a say in the matter.

 

 

Edited April 4, 2020 by DannyCarlton

[stephenterry]

July and August is so optimistic that, IMO, is not achievable. If anyone considers the Covid19 would have zeroed throughout the UK is a pie in the sky scenario. More likely, November/December and behind closed doors to the general public.

 

Or does revenue income still outweigh human life? Makes me sick. 

[mrbojangles]

3 hours ago, jimmjam said:

I know this is a little off the subject, but why dont they just play in empty stadiums no crowds.

I would imagine it would take at least 50 people to put on a match, even behind closed doors and those 50+ people will all have family etc. Probably putting too many people at risk for a footy match

[mrbojangles]

2 hours ago, DannyCarlton said:

I like the arrogance of UEFA in thinking that they will decide when football will recommence. I didn't realise that they had executive power over the respective governments of the countries under their umbrella, who might want to have a say in the matter.

Unfortunately they have the biggest carrot of all. The big pot of money that goes with the Champions League. With that power, they can get anyone to bend the knee