UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin says fans across the world want European Champions League and Europa League to be played behind closed doors rather than being abandoned.
Recall that the European football governing body suspended all European football matches because of the coronavirus pandemic ravaging almost every country in the continent.
In late March, the UEFA president said both Champions League and Europa League may resume between July and August. Yet, another statement which urged domestic leagues in Europe not to abandon the season advised the leagues management bodies to complete their seasons.
The statement promised to put the UEFA tournaments on hold until domestic leagues are able to bring their leagues into a logical end.
But Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin told ZDF Sportstudio that both tournaments (Champions League and Europa League) can not be stretched until September or October.
“We can’t play it out in September or October,” he said.
Going by this statement, there is a high possibility that this season’s UEFA Champions League and Europa League might be cancelled outrightly if the coronavirus pandemic does not end or government authorities do not permit UEFA to go on with the leagues on or before the end of August.
UEFA President Aleksander Says Closed Down Matches is preferable
Based on what Ceferin said when he featured on ZDF Sportstudio, the most favourable alternative to outright cancellation of the leagues is to have them played behind closed doors.
This, he said, would give the fans the opportunity of watching the matches live in their living rooms which would go a long way to keep them busy and entertained while observing the stay at home order.
He said: “We are waiting for the development of this terrible situation in the world, and mainly in Europe.
“It is still better to play the game behind closed doors and have it on TV, which is what the people need and want because it brings positive energy to their homes than not playing at all.
“That’s what the people want, that brings positive energy, and it will be July or August.”
The Evil of COVID-19 on Football so far
• Euro 2020: Postponed for a year
• Champions League: Suspended indefinitely
• Premier League: Suspended indefinitely
• La Liga: Suspended indefinitely
• Bundesliga: Likely no fans for rest of 2020
• Ligue 1: Suspended indefinitely
• Serie A: Suspended until April 13
• Copa America: Postponed until 2021
• MLS: Suspended until May 10
