UEFA have turned to virologist Marc Van Ranst as they seek a way for European football to cope with the coronavirus crisis.
Van Ranst is a key consultant for the Belgian FA – playing a part in their decision to immediately cancel the rest of their season last week.
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Aleksander Ceferin was not happy with Belgium’s decisionCredit: REUTERS
Club Brugge were subsequently named Pro League champions – despite the season not having finished.
This move initially appeared to enrage Uefa and its president Aleksander Ceferin.
The governing body threatened to ban nations from European competitions if they followed suit and voided their seasons.
But their stance appears to have softened.
They have now also been asking Van Ranst for his observations.
And speaking to Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, the Belgian said: “I have the impression that UEFA is starting to see that playing football is no longer possible this season.
“No one can blame the Belgian clubs for making the decision to drop the line.
“From the Pro League I understand that a minimum of three to four weeks of training is required before matches are possible again. Then it is unrealistic to finish the current competitions.
“Football is the most important side issue in the world and we talk to the ten specialists who determine the exit strategy.
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“But we have to be honest: mass events like football matches or music festivals will be among the last things we allow again.”
Even Ceferin, who is a staunch believer that each country’s season should be finished if at all possible, has a limit on the time frame in which it should be done so.
It is believed that the Slovenian has conceded that to do so in September or October would be too late.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin says Europe must unite against coronavirus to save football calendar
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
