Aleksander Ceferin confident about the conclusion of the European season

Domestic leagues in Europe, as well as UEFA competitions, could finish by August, says the UEFA president. Aleksander Ceferin is expecting the 2019-20 season to conclude by August, including the Champions League and the Europa League.

With every domestic league suspended in the month of March, UEFA competitions were also affected drastically. The Champions League has still four ties left in the last 16, while every competitor in the Europa League has to wait to reach a conclusion.

The Bundesliga returned this weekend successfully and following that, the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A have also planned returns in the month of June behind closed doors. However, the French league and the leagues in the Netherlands and Belgium were canceled. Ceferin though, told beIN SPORTS that he expects that everything will fall in place soon.

“We have an idea but we have to wait for the executive committee of UEFA to confirm the dates. I can say that the European season will be finished, if everything is as it is now, in August. As things look now, I’m sure that we can finish the European season and this means the UEFA competition. Majority of the leagues will finish this season and the ones who will not finish, they will have to participate in the European UEFA competitions by playing the qualifiers.”

The situation is very complicated in France where football is not played at all but Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain are yet to compete in the Champions League. Hosting matches for these clubs will be a complex task and Ceferin when asked about his thoughts, he said, “If you cannot play in your own country, then you have to organize it at a neutral ground. I don’t see the reason why French authorities would not allow them to organize a match without spectators, but let’s see. It’s out of my power.”

UEFA is facing another issue and that is the hosting of matches for the rescheduled Euro 2020 next year, which is due to take place across 12 different locations. Ceferin said nine cities have plans set in stone but issues remain with the further three.

featured image credits- The New York Times