The implications of the 2019-20 Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 seasons being canceled due to the coronavirus are still being felt around France.
Clubs up and down the French football tree are reeling from the loss in revenue from not playing out the remainder of the season. After broadcasters terminated their contracts, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LPF) must now take out a loan to cover for the loss in media rights revenue and to keep teams from going bankrupt.
Despite their financial advantage over practically every team in Europe, Paris Saint-Germain will not be immune and they expect “colossal losses.” The club was crowned champions for the ninth time in history when the final table was set and while we should celebrate that accomplishment, the premature nature in which PSG won the title could cost them a chance to win the trophy they covet the most.
In a report from The Athletic, which chronicles the fallout in France from canceling the season, sources at PSG conceded to the online publisher that they believe the club is at a “massive competitive disadvantage” if and when the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League resumes as other teams they will likely have to play would have finished out their domestic season leading up to the European competition.
As you know, PSG reached the quarter-finals after defeating Borussia Dortmund on March 11, and if the Champions League resumes in August as previously reported, that would mean PSG would go five months without playing a competitive match.
The prospect of having to play Manchester City or FC Bayern Munich, for example, who both would have had a couple of months to get back in form after a long layoff is incredibly daunting. People say Ligue 1 doesn’t appropriately prepare PSG for the Champions League but not playing any games at all is even worse!
In terms of where PSG would play their home games in the Champions League since no sporting event can take place before August, The Athletic believes UEFA would accept PSG’s proposal of playing the games outside of France giving the unique situation.
Before we get to the games, PSG must return to training and that likely won’t happen until June. It’s going to be a long summer…
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