UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has revealed the hypotheses and admitted the “season is probably lost” if they still can’t resume at the end of June.
Despite working hard to have different plans for in the event of a resumption, the UEFA President has pointed out that everything is up to the coronavirus pandemic.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has revealed the hypotheses and admitted the “season is probably lost” if they still can’t resume at the end of June.
Despite working hard to have different plans for in the event of a resumption, the UEFA President has pointed out that everything is up to the coronavirus pandemic.
“In this dramatic moment, the most important thing is people’s health and getting out of this crisis,” he told La Repubblica. “Of course, the interruption of football symbolises that Europe and the world has stopped.
“We don’t know when this pandemic will end, but we have a plan A, B and even C. We are in contact with the Leagues, with the clubs, there’s a working group. We have to wait, like any other sector.”
The UEFA President explained the different solutions for the resumption of football this term.
“[We could] start again in mid-May, in mid-June or at the end of June. Then, if we don’t succeed, the season is probably lost,” he added. “There is also the proposal to end this season at the start of the next, which would then be postponed, starting a little later.
“We will see what the best solutions for the different Leagues and clubs are.
“It’s difficult to imagine all the games behind closed doors, but now we don’t even know if we will resume, with or without spectators.
“If there are no other alternatives, it would still be better to conclude the championships. I can say that I don’t think about the European Cup Finals behind closed doors."
Atalanta’s match in the last 16 of the Champions League against Valencia at Mestalla was carried out behind closed doors and Ceferin hits out at the criticism aimed at UEFA allowing the match to go ahead.
“When the Valencia-Atalanta match was played, football still went on everywhere in Europe. It was behind closed doors and the fans who gathered in front of the stadium were under the jurisdiction of the Spanish authorities.
“I also head an idiotic criticism about the trip to Milan. On February 19, no one knew that Lombardy would be the centre of the epidemic. Who were we to say it shouldn’t go ahead? There are authorities in charge.”