National and international – that’s how football continues in the Corona crisis
In the coming days there will be several pioneering conferences at national and international football level to discuss how the coronavirus crisis could continue.
What meetings are there this week?
On Tuesday there will be a video link between the European Football Union and the general secretaries of the 55 national associations. It is about the possible continuation of the international competitions.
On Thursday, the 36 clubs from the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga will discuss at the DFL general meeting about scenarios of how the season that was suspended until April 30 could be played out. The Presidium of the German Football Association meets on Friday. The focus is on the 3rd division and the DFB Cup.
Is there a decision by the DFL when to continue playing in the Bundesliga?
This is not to be expected. Decisions can only be made on the basis of current political guidelines. The prime ministers of the federal states only want to talk about the topic of the Bundesliga at the next meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel on April 30.
At least Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder sent positive signals last week that the season could continue with ghost games. He thinks this is conceivable, said the CSU boss.
So what is the DFL general assembly about?
Finance is an important point. The DFL will inform the clubs about the status of the talks with the media partners, on whose money the clubs are particularly dependent in the Corona crisis.
It is a total of a good 300 million euros from the last installment due for the 2019/20 season. It must also be discussed how the TV stations could get their money back or offset them in the event of a season break.
Which topics are still on the agenda?
It should be discussed what requirements the clubs have to comply with in the event of the season continuation they hope for. How many people can be present at ghost games in the stadium, what does the hygiene concept look like in detail, how should the game plan be designed – these are just a few of the points to be clarified.
“Professional football will be ready as soon as the authorities give the green light to return to the pitch and first of all to the living room,” said DFB boss Fritz Keller on Monday in a contribution for the “kicker”. Last but not least, it must also be discussed how the consequences of an unwanted end of the season could be mastered.
What’s next in the 3rd division?
The DFB Presidium will exchange views on this. In contrast to the professional field, not all clubs vote to end the season with ghost games. After all, eight clubs are for a break in the season. This makes decision-making difficult.
What is in store for European football?
The UEFA video conference titled “Information Session” with the general secretaries of the 55 member associations will focus on appointments. It is also unclear when the Champions League and Europa League will continue and whether the international matches scheduled for September will take place.
To this end, the question could be discussed whether UEFA might support member associations with early payments in the Corona crisis. The UEFA Executive Committee will discuss the current situation on Thursday. The government of the continental association can also make decisions about possible new dates for the continuation of the European Cup.
What are the scenarios for international competitions?
UEFA has given national leagues priority to end the suspended season. All games of the Champions League and Europa League have been postponed “until further notice”.
The hope and goal of the continental association is to choose the winners of the European Cup competitions by the end of August. The mind games range from shortened quarter-finals to a final 8 tournament in one place to a final in Istanbul on August 29.
However, this is only feasible if the national leagues start again in July or August at the latest. Closing the season in September and October is very difficult, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin told Corriere della Sera. “That would have a major impact on the 2020/21 season calendar,” he said, but emphasized: “There is no specific deadline.”
