As leagues allow players to return to training and dates are set to resume the season, Ligue 1 is looking like the odd league out as they have already shut everything down due to the coronavirus and named Paris Saint-Germain champions.
The decision has not been popular with teams who were relegated or left without an opportunity to qualify for European competition next season. In fact, Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michel Aulas plans to take legal action as his side finished seventh officially.
Another voice joining Aulas comes from football legend Paolo Maldini who currently serves as the technical director at AC Milan. During a recent Instagram Live (via L’Equipe) Maldini spoke about the stoppage of football in Italy and his desire to see the game return this season.
“Our team [AC Milan] has resumed, but let’s be careful…There is so much uncertainty, it will all depend on what Serie A decides.”
Despite the very real consequences of playing during a pandemic that has killed more than 270,000 people worldwide, Maldini believes football is too important to shutter completely.
“We must try to go on the field, it would be a disaster for all points of view, first of all economic. We have to try. France, in my opinion, made a mistake. But we will accept what the government’s verdict will be.”
Maldini is uniquely qualified to speak about this manner because not only is he a respected voice in the game, but he also contracted the coronavirus and has since recovered.
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