UEFA weighing up options as chaos continues

UEFA will decide the fate of the 2019/2020 season on Tuesday, with the coronavirus pandemic threatening to even render the campaign null and void.

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This really has turned into an utter disaster. The coronavirus illness, which originally began in China, has put a halt to the sporting season across the planet while tragically killing thousands of people in the process. At the time of writing, nearly all of Europe’s football championships have been suspended, with the exception of the Super Lig in Turkey which is continuing to take place behind closed doors. The playoffs and playouts of the Super League have been postponed until further notice.

On Tuesday, UEFA will hold a conference call with representatives of European federations, with the organisation set to announce the future of the 2019/2020 season after it finishes. Let’s take a look at the options on the table:

WAIT FOR THE PEAK TO PASS

According to various reports, the peak of the coronavirus pandemic is expected to hit in March and April, meaning that no championships will be able to resume before May. However, if nations are subsequently capable of containing the virus and stabilizing the situation, football will return in the not too distant future. All games will be probably played behind closed doors at first before supporters are allowed back into the stadiums.

The Italians, who have been hit terribly by the illness, are reportedly planning to restart Serie A in early May. The governing bodies in Greece are hopeful of starting the Super League playoffs and playouts in May as well.

SHORTENING CHAMPIONSHIPS

There has been widespread talk concerning a Final Four format, used by the EuroLeague in the sport of basketball, for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Furthermore, a similar format could be used for domestic leagues as well, with countries eager to complete their respective championships before July at the latest. The 2020/2021 campaign will then be allowed to begin in September.

PERMANENTLY STOPPING OR VOIDING THE SEASON

This, of course, is the option which nobody wants. Economically, this would prove to be a disaster for both leagues and clubs, with La Liga suggesting that teams could lose up to a grand total of 700 million euros each. If the 2019/2020 season is permanently stopped, it is likely that the current standings in European championships would be ratified as final; for example, Olympiacos would be named Greek champions, as they are currently in first place of the Super League. 

Moreover, there is a chance that UEFA will render the 2019/2020 season null and void, meaning that all results in the current campaign are cancelled and forgotten about. No teams will be relegated, promoted or crowned champions, and all clubs which participated in the 2019/2020 Champions League or Europa League will enter the competitions at the same stage as this season. In short, the 2019/2020 season would start from scratch again in August/September.

A lot depends on UEFA Euro 2020 too. Assuming that the tournament is postponed to either December or 2021, national leagues will be able to restart in May/June, an option would appears to be the most likely. Sadly, there is no easy solution or magic fix, with everyone having been placed in unchartered waters. The main hope is that somehow, in the coming weeks, the spread of coronavirus will be stabilized and we can start to get back to normal life again. 

Image Source: sportime.gr

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