With
football suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, what is the current
situation around Europe's top leagues?
England - Premier League
The Premier League will hold further talks this week, as it targets a return
behind closed doors in June.
All 20 clubs will hold their latest conference call on Friday but a
resumption of domestic football will only take place with government
approval.
The government's next review of current lockdown restrictions is due on May
7, as detailed planning continues under a 'Project Restart' programme.
Sport will only resume when the government is satisfied its own measures are
in place.
EFL
The English Football League (EFL) has warned that football cannot resume
before adequate testing arrangements are in place for coronavirus.
It follows reports that the Premier League has stepped up planning for a
return behind closed doors as early as June.
The EFL said its own position remains unchanged as it looks to find a way to
resume play as soon as possible.
In a statement, the EFL said: "Clearly, before any return to football can
take place, suitable testing arrangements for participants must be in place
and this is core to our current planning, as is ensuring there is absolutely
no negative impact on the country's front-line workers, the emergency
services, league and club staff members."
Non-League
National League clubs have voted in favour of ending the 2019/20 at its
current point and cancelling all remaining fixtures.
Ninety per cent of the National League clubs supported a motion in favour of
bringing an end to the leagues, which have been suspended since March 16.
The options concerning promotion and relegation in the National League,
National League North and National League South of the current campaign
remain "under careful and timely consideration".
Scotland - Premiership
The SPFL board is due to meet on Monday afternoon for the first time since
April 10, when all 42 SPFL clubs voted on proposals to conclude the season
below the top division.
The Scottish Premiership is suspended, but following the SPFL's decision to
finish the season for the Championship, League One and League Two, the board
now has the power to terminate the Scottish Premiership, with Celtic topping
the table.
PFA Scotland has stated the players' union will not block efforts to
complete the Scottish Premiership behind closed doors.
Championship, League One & League Two
Dundee voted yes to the SPFL resolution on Wednesday, which resulted in the
seasons in the Scottish Championship, League One and League Two ending.
Dundee United have been declared champions of the Championship, Raith Rovers
champions of League One, and Cove Rangers champions of League Two.
Partick Thistle have been relegated from the Championship, while Stranraer
were demoted from League One.
An investigation has found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the SPFL
in relation to the submission of Dundee's vote on the resolution to end the
lower leagues in Scotland.
Independent non-executive SPFL director Karyn McCluskey has written an open
letter to clubs and supporters, outlining the conclusions reached by
auditing firm Deloitte following an investigation into the timeline of
events on April 10 when Dundee's vote went missing, before they changed
their voting intentions the following week.
Italy - Serie A
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced that professional sports
teams can resume training on May 18.
Serie A has been suspended since March 9, when the government ordered a
nationwide lockdown.
Twelve rounds remain in Serie A, plus four other games that were postponed
from the 25th round. The Italian Cup was suspended after the first leg of
the semi-finals.
The move means that Serie A could potentially resume playing games in June,
though Conte said a decision on that will not be made until a later date.
Spain - La Liga
Health minister Salvador Illa says professional football in Spain is not
likely to return before the summer.
Spain has been without football since March 12, two days before the nation
went into a strict lockdown, in order to battle a coronavirus outbreak which
has claimed more than 22,000 lives in the country.
The Spanish league has already said that play will not resume before late
May and the government's health officials, led by Illa, have the final say
with regard to authorising the return of sporting activities.
Illa told the media on Sunday that: "It would be reckless for me to say now
that professional football will be back before the summer. We will continue
to monitor the evolution (of the virus) and the guidelines we will present
will indicate how different activities can return to a new normalcy."
France - Ligue 1
French football authorities are aiming to restart Ligue 1 on June 17.
In a statement released to L'Equipe, following a meeting held last Friday,
the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) confirmed that the intention is to
stage fixtures again from that date, but it was not made clear if games
would be played behind closed doors.
French publication L'Equipe have reported that teams would have to play
every three days to ensure the regular campaign finishes by July 25,
allowing time for relegation and promotion play-offs to be completed by
August 2.
The French Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and St Etienne has been
rescheduled for June 27 while the League Cup final, in which PSG are due to
meet Lyon, has been pencilled in for July 11.
The last matches in Ligue 1 were played on March 16.
Germany - Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is ready to return on May 9 if the German government gives it
the green light, league officials have confirmed.
Its resumption, behind closed doors, remains dependent on government and all
federal states' approval, and Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert
warned providing an exact date "would be presumptuous and is not in our
hands".
"If we should start on May 9, we are ready. If it is later we will be ready
again," Seifert said. "We can only offer the framework conditions."
Finishing the 2019/20 season remains the priority in German football, with
Seifert insisting failing to do so would mean "the Bundesliga would be a
collateral damage to the coronavirus crisis".
A maximum of 300 people can be involved at the stadium on match day,
according to Sky in Germany. The Bundesliga is collaborating with five
different laboratories to ensure adequate testing for coronavirus. Players
will be tested at least once a week, which would require around 20,000 tests
for this season.
Netherlands - Eredivisie
The Dutch Eredivisie season has been ended with immediate effect, meaning
league leaders Ajax have been denied the title.
There will also be no promotion to the Dutch Eredivisie or relegation from
the top flight, following an agreement reached over a video conference call
between the Dutch FA (KNVB) and clubs.
Ajax were top of the Eredivisie table, ahead of AZ Alkmaar on goal
difference, with nine rounds of matches to play when the season was
suspended.
The Eredivisie has put Ajax forward to go directly to the play-offs of the
Champions League, with AZ playing in the second qualifying round.
Third-placed Feyenoord go straight into the group stage of the Europa League
with PSV and Willem II qualifying for the second qualifying round for the
competition.
But AZ have released a statement saying they are considering their options
after indicating displeasure with the judgement, particularly in relation to
the awarding of European places.
The settlement of places for European competition next season is subject to
ratification by UEFA.
Belgium - Pro League
Possible resumption of the season remains open after decision on April 27 to
postpone vote on cancelling the season until May 4.
The Pro League's board of directors had previously recommended the season
should be ended, with Club Brugge declared champions in a decision at the
beginning of April.
Belgium's sporting authorities are awaiting more clarity on the possible
easing of lockdown rules and a window of opportunity to continue playing.
Portugal - Primeira Liga
All matches in the country's Primeira Liga were suspended indefinitely on
March 12, with 10 matches still to play this season.
The Portuguese League has drawn up provisional plans to complete the current
season by the end of July.
The Algarve's football association (AFA) is open to the idea of hosting the
remaining league football matches 'behind closed doors' in the Algarve.
Champions League & Europa League
UEFA is considering proposals which would see the Champions League final
being played three months later than scheduled at the end of August.
The Champions League final was due to take place at the Ataturk Olympic
Stadium in Istanbul on May 30.
UEFA considering CL final on August 29
Under one of the new proposals, which UEFA will discuss next week, the final
would be moved to Saturday, August 29 at the same venue.
The Europa League final which was due to be played in Gdansk on May 27 could
now be played on Wednesday, August 26.
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