UEFA calls out all top leagues to submit final plan by May 25, while Ligue 1 ends

The top leagues across Europe will need to have plans for the conclusion of the 2019-20 season in place by May 25. 

The deadline was put forward as part of the governing body’s guidelines on eligibility principles for 2020-21 UEFA club competitions. 

Following a meeting of its executive committee last week, UEFA strongly recommended all leagues on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic be completed whenever possible. 

It basically said that top divisions could be seen out with a different format or where resumption is not feasible, national associations could decide places for next season’s continental competitions “on sporting merit.”

The organization’s guidelines read, “National associations and leagues should be in a position to communicate to UEFA by May 25, 2020, the planned restart of their domestic competitions including the date of restart and the relevant competition format.”

“In the event that a domestic competition is to be prematurely terminated for legitimate reasons in accordance with conditions set out by the executive committee, UEFA would require the national association to explain by May 25." 

"The special circumstances justifying such premature termination and to select clubs for UEFA club competitions 2020-21 on basis of the sporting merit in the 2019-20 domestic competitions.”

Bundesliga clubs have resumed training and could be back on the pitch by May 9, while Serie A teams are expected to be back in training from the following week. 

After professional sports were banned in the Netherlands until September 1, the Eredivisie announced the cancellation of its 19-20 season last week.

No champions with no promotion or relegation was declared and this led to some of the clubs feeling disappointed. 

KNVB Beker finalists Utrecht consequently missed out on a place in the Europa League qualifiers and stated they intend to legally challenge the ruling.

As far as Ligue 1 is concerned, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced today that no professional football will be played in the country before September. 

The 2019-20 Ligue 1 and 2 seasons are now ended after the France Prime Minister announced in a speech to the National Assembly.

Champions, European places, promotion and relegation, everything will be decided in the next meeting is what is expected at the moment.

featured image credits- goal.com