The world has stopped to deal with the coronavirus crisis, and soccer is no exception. Despite its efforts to resist until the last minute, the sport also had to lower the blind due to health recommendations, which left the present and future in the air. For weeks, the different responsible agencies have been crushing each other in search of solutions for a situation as unexpected as it is threatening.
UEFA continues to move to resolve unknowns, and on Wednesday it has called a meeting with all its members. The general secretaries of their 55 federations will connect at noon in a videoconference in which the progress made after the last meeting will be shared, in which two working groups were formed that were to outline possible action plans regarding various issues.
The main question is what will happen to the calendar, a major issue that will be on the table. President Aleksander Ceferin has already announced that up to three different alternatives are being handled, depending on whether activity can be resumed in May or June or whether we have to wait even longer. The most optimistic forecasts on the rescheduling of matches point to August as the possible end of the 2019-20 season.
Progress will also be analyzed on issues that Europe shares with FIFA, such as player contracts and the transfer market. The highest international authority is also managing the reorganization of club and national team commitments, and would assess some scenarios for the points mentioned. Extending the contracts and a transfer window that lasts from July to January would be among his proposals.
What is certain is that there will be important changes in football, at least in the coming years. Ceferin recalled in a recent interview that health is the absolute priority, but stressed that it will fight to cushion as far as possible the impact of this crisis. The leader said that the 2020-21 campaign could be compressed and make the most of its dates, which will depend on the collective sacrifice.
Canceling the Champions League is the great fear of UEFA
According to various media, there is some fear in UEFA about the possibility of having to cancel European competitions. In a first agreement it was agreed that the domestic championships would end first, and at its conclusion the pending crossings of the Champions and Europa League would be resolved. Determinants such as the obligation to play without an audience or the lack of time to redistribute the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons could end the premature closure of both tournaments, a drastic measure that is to be avoided but that Ceferin warned is not ruled out.