UCL, UEL to be played in July-Aug
Voiding the season now ‘off the table’
PARIS: The latter stages of this season’s Champions League and Europa League are reportedly set to be moved to July and August as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the football calendar.
And all international matches scheduled for June are likely to be postponed until autumn to make way for the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Mail Online reported.
The move comes, according to German outlet ZDF, ahead of the latest Uefa video conference set to take place later yesterday.
All football across Europe has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, and uncertainty surrounds when it will be safe again to continue.
But there now appears to be a prevailing view that this season should finish before the next begins that could even see the Champions League final played behind closed doors, according to the Independent.
They claimed yesterday that voiding the 2019-20 season is now reportedly ‘off the table’ with Uefa and the European leagues committing to completing the current campaign.
European football’s governing body was set to stage another video conference yesterday where plans to finish the season, as well as issues over player contracts and the transfer window.
Detailed discussions are already believed to have taken place, with all parties in agreement with the view from England that the season must be completed.
It could lead to both the Champions League and Europa League showpieces taking place in front of empty stadiums.
MOUNTING PRESSURE Tottenham’s decision to impose a 20 percent wage reduction on 550 nonplaying staff due to the impact of the coronavirus has prompted increased pressure on Premier League players to take a pay cut or a deferral of wages.
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) are in talks with the Premier League over how best to deal with the current suspension of competition, but the moves by some clubs to use the government’s furlough scheme has prompted sharp criticism.
On Monday, Newcastle United put non-playing staff on leave and instructed employees to apply for the government’s newly-created coronavirus job retention scheme.
Norwich City on Tuesday said they were taking similar steps to “safeguard future jobs and help sustain the club” through the crisis. The Norfolk club said they would top up the government’s help to ensure staff received their full salaries.
Julian Knight, the Conservative MP who is chair of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Committee in the British parliament, has condemned such moves.
“It sticks in the throat,” said Knight. “This exposes the crazy economics in English football and the moral vacuum at its centre.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said top players should be the ones who make the sacrifices. “It should be those with the broadest shoulders who go first because they can carry the greatest burden and have probably got savings,” he said.