“We are confident that football can restart in the months to come – with conditions that will be dictated by public authorities”
By Bryan Swanson
Last Updated: / / 55 : PM
UEFA are advising leagues not to cancel their seasons
European leagues have been urged not to “abandon” their seasons, after officials revealed they are working towards plans to resume games from July.
UEFA, the European Club Association [ECA] and European Leagues [EL] have written to all 59 member associations, including clubs and leagues, and called on them to “walk united” as they tackle growing issues from the coronavirus pandemic.
The letter, seen by Sky Sports News, has made it clear that associations should continue to work towards a resumption of their seasons, when It is safe to do so.
“It is of paramount importance that even a disruptive event like this epidemic does not prevent o ur competitions from being decided on the field, in accordance with their rules and that all sporting titles are awarded on the basis of results, “it states.
“As responsible leaders in our sport, this is what we must ensure, until the last possibility exists and whilst planning, operational and regulatory solutions are available. “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.”
Belgium’s Pro League were recommended to end the season by the board of directors
UEFA chaired a conference call with every member association on Wednesday.
) No association raised the issue of cancelling the current season but, since the meeting, the board of directors at Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League have recommended their season should end.
Some clubs in the Netherlands are also calling for a premature end to their season.
Officials are working towards scenarios which extend beyond the current preferred deadline of June .
“The working groups have held several meetings and are in daily contact to ensure that the overriding objective of taking all competitions to their natural end is met. In order to achieve it, concrete plans are being drawn up, “adds the letter.
” Their work is now focusing on scenarios encompassing the months of July and August, including the possibility that the UEFA competitions restart after the completion of domestic leagues. A joint management of calendars is strictly required as the conclusion of the current season must be coordinated with the start of the new one, which may be partly impacted because of the overstretch.
Ajax director of football Marc Overmars (left) called for the Eredivisie to be abandoned
“Closely following the development of the current situation, the calendar working group will indicate as soon as possible, and ideally by mid-May, which of the plans can be enacted for the completion of the season without leaving anyone behind. Stopping competitions should really be the last resort after acknowledging that no calendar alternative would allow to conclude the seas on. “
The letter, signed by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, ECA chairman Andrea Agnelli and EL president Lars-Christer Olsson, acknowledges that public health remains the top priority.
“The current health crisis caused by the spread of Covid – has no precedents in our society and, on top of the threat posed to public health, which is the uncontested number one priority, it has dramatically hit all industries and economic sectors, “it notes.
“We walk united in the awareness that only an extraordinary coordinated effort of all competition organists can help European football out of the crisis, recovering in full its core asset, the competitions. With no unity and no solidarity, nobody will be able to get out of the crisis as we are all interdependent. “
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