UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin admits the idea of Champions League and Europa League play-offs are “an option,” but either way all leagues “must finish by August 3.”
All football has been suspended in Europe’s major leagues due to the coronavirus pandemic and it’s not clear when, or indeed if, the campaign will be concluded.
What we do now have is a deadline, set by Ceferin during an interview with German television station ZDF.
“It must finish by August 3, both the Champions and Europa League. It is an extraordinary situation we are in, so we are flexible on dates and kick-off times. If the crisis eases earlier, then we can start sooner.”
There have been reports the European competitions could be decided by a series of knockout games, either of the final eight or last four teams.
“We could play with the current system, or in a one-off match played on neutral turf. For now, it’s just an option to play with a Final Eight or Final Four.
“The only wrong decision we could make now would be to play in a way that puts the health and safety of players, fans and referees at risk. However, if we are in secure conditions, then I don’t see the problem.”
Amazed at how tone death Ceferin and UEFA are on this. You cannot restart playing games until the coronavirus pandemic is under control and in places like Italy and Spain, that is not in the foreseeable future.
Based on whispers that we are hearing, we would be lucky to play any football, and that includes behind closed doors, until September.