UEFA under pressure to cancel all football leagues across Europe

UEFA under pressure to cancel all football leagues across Europe amidst the coronavirus pandemic that has engulfed the whole world.

The English Premier League have repeatedly stated their desire to complete the season amidst the coronavirus crisis that has brought sporting events around the world to a complete halt. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has warned of a £1b loss if the season doesn’t get finished.

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The sentiment is also shared by the UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin; who has made it clear he wants football to start up again across Europe. He has outlined a provisional plan to get domestic leagues finished by early August. The Champions League and Europa League are also structured to be concluded by the end of that month.

UEFA under pressure to cancel all football leagues across Europe

Despite the UEFA and the Premier League’s desires to resume football, Belgian Football Association president Mehdi Bayat is putting pressure on UEFA to cancel all leagues in Europe because of the coronavirus crisis.

The Belgian FA have already cancelled their season. They are among several countries that are keen for the current campaign to be declared null and void.

Belgium and Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has also backed the Belgian FA. He has insisted that resuming games with little preparation would leave players at risk of serious injury.

Bayat has lobbied other associations for support. It is understood that they have the backing of several countries not as reliant on TV revenue.

This decision will set them against both the Premier League and the UEFA. The latter have already warned them that some of their clubs could be denied entry to the Champions League or the Europa League because of their decision to null and void their league early.

The Belgians however, are unlikely to back down. Instead  they have continued to pile the pressure on the European governing body to follow suit.

UEFA bosses will hold a video conference meeting next week to decide on a schedule for countries to follow to get football played again.

It remains to be seen what action the UEFA will take next. However, football leagues such as England, Germany, Spain and Italy have either resumed training or are looking to do so if and when possible.

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