UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has said that leagues across Europe are set to return to action behind closed doors.
Leagues around the world have been suspended since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed over 100,000 lives in Europe.
Ceferin believes that players returning to the pitch would be vital in the journey back to normalcy, and also heavy losses would be avoided.
Speaking in an interview with an Italian news outlet, the head of European football said:
“I believe there are options that can allow us to restart cup championships and to complete them.
“We may have to resume without spectators, but the most important thing, I think, is playing games.
It is early to say that we cannot complete the season. The impact would be terrible for clubs and leagues. Better to play behind closed doors than not at all.
In such hard times it would bring happiness to people and a certain sense of normality even if the games can only be seen on TV.
All activities are being organised to start again, everyone needs to find their lives.
If safety measures are respected and if the authorities give the green light, the training could resume like the rest.
Further consent will be needed for matches.”
According to Ceferin, if leagues returned to action soon enough, then the Champions League and Europa League matches would be played in parallel, with no date limit for the finals.
“The priority is the health of fans, players and coaches.”
As for countries who have decided not to finish the season, Ceferin said that UEFA “will review the cases”.
Such decisions were not made alone,” he said.
Football is interconnected, we have seen how important it is for UEFA and leagues to work in good cooperation. The executive committee will review the cases
Such decisions were not made alone. Football is interconnected, we have seen how important it is for UEFA and leagues to work in good cooperation. The executive committee will review the cases.
Leagues are the revenue base for clubs nationwide. If completed, the financial consequences will be limited.
UEFA on the other hand, will lose a lot of money for postponing Euro 2020.”
