Since football came to a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic last month, Paris Saint-Germain supporters have wondered whether or not the club would get a chance to build off of their win over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League.
According to a letter sent by UEFA to its members on Thursday, the organization said finishing the domestic leagues and cup competitions were of “paramount importance.”
Reuters, which claimed to have seen the letter, reports that two groups that were set up by UEFA are currently working on ways to extend the 2019-20 season past June 30, and should have more details around mid-May.
As far as when the Champions League could resume, the groups are “focusing on scenarios encompassing the months of July and August, including the possibility that the UEFA competitions restart after the completion of domestic leagues.”
With four Round of 16 matches yet to be finished and then the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final yet to play, the Champions League could go well into the summer months.
If the games go past June 30, UEFA will have to figure out what to do with player contracts that are set to expire. The easiest solution would be to adjust those contracts so that they end whenever the season ends but that’s easier said than done and will impact the summer transfer window.
The news of the letter came shortly after the Belgian league announced that it was canceling the rest of its season and naming Club Brugge the champion.
That decision could have serious consequences for next season’s UEFA competitions. Some speculate that leagues that do not complete their seasons on the pitch could be barred from nominating teams to the Champions League and Europa League.
Source at UEFA: leagues who void seasons could find it difficult to nominate UCL and UEL reps, ESPECIALLY if other leagues complete their comps. Non-completion could lead to non-qualification, could be seen that teams did not qualify if voided, brings coefficient issues also.
— Chris Williams (@Chris78Williams) March 27, 2020
The letter sent on Thursday sent a strong message to those leagues considering following the Belgian Pro League and canceling their seasons.
“Stopping competitions should really be the last resort after acknowledging that no calendar alternative would allow to conclude the season.”
“We are confident that football can restart in the months to come—with conditions that will be dictated by public authorities—and believe that any decision of abandoning domestic competitions is, at this stage, premature and not justified.”
Hopefully, French football executives heed this message and do everything possible to complete the Ligue 1 season so that PSG aren’t left out of the Champions League next season. Who am I kidding, they’re going to win it this year anyway! Allez Paris.
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