CHAMPIONS LEAGUE and Europa League could be ABANDONED if coronavirus shutdown continues, warns Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin.
The Slovenian added that playing behind closed doors would be the preferred option to scrapping games.
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Aleksander Ceferin fears, if the season does not resume by July, the obstacles to finishing it might be too greatCredit: REUTERS
The Champions League and Europa League have been suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus crisis.
The competitions is currently at a standstill along with many football tournaments around the world to help prevent further spread of the killer bug.
There are no dates set for when they will return, with round of 16 second leg matches still to be played.
Ceferin told ZDF Sportstudio: “We are waiting for the development of this terrible situation in the world, and mainly in Europe. Football isn’t the same without fans. But it is definitely better to play with fans than without fans.
“The thing is, football is absolutely not the same without spectators.
“But it is still better to play the game behind closed doors and have it on TV, which is what the people need and want because it brings positive energy to their homes, than not playing at all.
“That’s what the people want, that brings positive energy, and it will be July or August. We can’t play it out in September or October.”
“If the authorities do not allow us to play, then we cannot play.”
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There is plenty of British interest in the latter stages of the continent’s premier competitions, as it stands.
Manchester City and Chelsea are both still in the Champions League, while Manchester United, Wolves and Scottish Premiership side Rangers are all in the Europa League.
The finals of the Champions League, Europa League and Women’s Champions League, all of which were scheduled for May, have already been postponed.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
