Uncertain period ahead for Super League amid health crisis
With the coronavirus pandemic having somewhat complicated an already tricky situation, an uncertain period is around the corner for the Super League organisation which is facing a number of problems.
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The problems were there even before the coronavirus prevented the Super League playoffs and playouts from starting. After being found guilty of co-ownership, both PAOK and Xanthi suffered heavy points deductions from the standings, a scandal which prevented the playoffs from starting a week earlier. PAOK and Xanthi are currently appealing the decision as they continue to plead their innocence.
Sadly, despite UEFA revealing its desire for domestic championships to resume in May and finish by June, no one can realistically say when the leagues will start again as the coronavirus continues to cause devastation across the world. If matches can’t begin during May, the season will probably end up being completed in July or even August, meaning that special legislation will have to be created concerning players’ contracts which are due to expire at the end of June. There is also a problem with regards to the broadcasting deals. At the moment, ERT and Nova hold contracts with Super League clubs, however sticking points could arise concerning the broadcasts of the remaining matches. Reports from gazzetta.gr have suggested that the former has not got a stable management.
Economically, of course, this pandemic will hit the smaller clubs the hardest. It has been stated that teams could lose up to around 600,000 euros if the season is eventually cancelled altogether.
At the moment, each team in the playoffs is scheduled to play 10 matches, and it’s worth remembering that AEK, Aris, Olympiacos and PAOK are all still involved in the semi-finals of the Greek Cup as well. In the event that the 2019/2020 campaign is successfully completed when the state issues the green light to play, there will be an exhausting schedule put in place to make sure that players do have some kind of rest break before the pre-season begins. The summer training camps are predicted to be shorter than usual.
In the concluding days of March, a conference call will be held between members of the Super League Board of Directors, in which the future of the season will naturally be discussed. More concrete information concerning the possibility of completing the campaign will subsequently be released.
UEFA has officially postponed the finals of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League as the coronavirus refuses to show any signs of packing its bags.
