Earlier today, The French prime minister, Edouard Philippe announced that the professional football 2019-20 season in Ligue 1 and 2 will end immediately.
Matches in France have been on suspension since the start of March because of the coronavirus pandemic, with several players having agreed to defer up to 50% of their salaries to help their clubs through the crisis after broadcasters initially withheld TV rights.
Whereas Germany’s Bundesliga looks set to resume next month behind closed doors, The prime minister’s speech to the National Assembly on Tuesday all but confirmed that the government will not sanction the return of professional sport, as they do not want to risk further outbreak.
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Speaking further, he said “The big sporting affairs cannot occur before September, the 2019-20 professional football season cannot return.”
Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the governing body for the French professional football league, is expected to meet next month to discuss how to end the season and resolve issues such as Champions League qualification, promotion and relegation.
In the Netherlands the Eredivisie season was cancelled without any champions being crowned and with all 18 teams remaining in the division next season.
The broadcasters BeIN Sports and Canal+ last week agreed a compromise deal that will see them pay a portion of the TV rights to LFP, they had withheld around €130m when fixtures were suspended at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is understood that although the season will no longer be completed, the clubs will receive the remaining amount due in June.
Written by:
Basil Maduakor
