Uefa willing to void domestic seasons 'in special cases' due to coronavirus

Leading the way | Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin is having to guide European clubs through Covid-19
REUTERS

Uefa have opened the door to domestic league seasons being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The European governing body remains committed to seeing seasons completed but, in a meeting with its 55 member associations on Tuesday, has softened its stance from earlier in the month.

A letter to associations at the start of April warned that cancelling their season, as has been the case in Belgium, should be considered a last resort and that a "premature termination would cast doubts" over their eligibility to send teams in the Champions League or Europa League next season.

However, the governing body have now stated that despite the "strong recommendation" to finish seasons, they will hear "some special cases" once guidelines regarding participation in the Champions League and Europa League should a season be cancelled have been drawn up.

Uefa have established two working groups, which today presented a number of options for a revised footballing calendar, one of which is thought to be a plan to see the 2020-21 season begin in mid-September, back by president Aleksander Ceferin.

There will be a meeting of Uefa, the European Club Association and the European Leagues on Wednesday before Uefa's executive committee meet on Thursday, where decisions could be finalised on the outcome of this season.

A Uefa statement read: "Uefa today met its 55 member associations via videoconference and presented an update of the options being looked into by the two working groups that were created mid-March.

"A variety of calendar options were presented covering both national team and club competition matches.

"The funding of National Associations through Uefa’s HatTrick programme was also discussed with Uefa reiterating its commitment to meeting the payments to member associations as planned.

"There was a strong recommendation given to finish domestic top division and cup competitions, but some special cases will be heard once guidelines concerning participation to European competitions - in case of a cancelled league - have been developed.

"Any decisions on the above topics would be announced after the Uefa Executive Committee on Thursday."

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