The French football leagues were canceled too early under government pressure, a former sports minister claimed.
The top two leagues in men’s football and the top league in women’s football ended early, as did the Top 14 rugby league, after Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said they could not resume because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Patrick Kanner, sports minister from 2014-17, thinks the leagues felt pressured following Philippe’s televised address into calling their seasons off, and that play might have been able to go ahead in the right conditions.
"It was after his (Philippe's) announcement on April 28 before (parliament) that the leagues and the federations gave in," Kanner told France Inter radio. "They were not given any choice. I insist on this: there were health protocols being prepared by all the sports organisations. Maybe we could have resumed the competitions in June."
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Barcelona get ready
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Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba compete for the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Lionel Messi during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Lionel Messi during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Martin Braithwaite controls the ball under pressure from Alex Collado (L) and Ramon Rodriguez 'Monchu' (C) during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Alex Collado during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Ronald Araujo on the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Ronald Araujo during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Inaki Pena during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Norberto Murara Neto during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Sergio Busquets plays the ball under pressure from Gerard Pique during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Sergio Busquets and Ansu Fati compete for the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi and Arturo Vidal during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Nelson Semedo during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Arthur Melo controls the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Clement Lenglet during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Jordi Alba during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Gerard Pique during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Riqui Puig during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Sergi Roberto during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Frenkie De Jong during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Frenkie De Jong during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Barcelona manager Quique Setien looks on during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Riqui Puig controls the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Luis Suarez during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Gerard Pique during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Jordi Alba during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images -
Martin Braithwaite during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
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France is the only one of Europe's five major leagues to cancel its season. Runaway leader Paris Saint-Germain were declared champions while Toulouse and Amiens were relegated.
Games in Germany have already resumed and they are set to do so in England, Italy and Spain in June — all without fans at the stadiums. The Premier League was given government approval on Saturday to press ahead with its June 17 restart.
Kanner regrets that French fans must turn their attentions elsewhere for entertainment.
“Quite honestly, I would prefer it that the French could watch Ligue 1 games on television rather than Bundesliga games,” Kanner said.
