It was always going to be a significant week in Uefa’s calendar. Manchester City against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich versus Chelsea, Juventus and Barcelona home games, a host of Europa League ties. All, as virtually everyone must be aware, are postponed.
Instead the hastily arranged encounter is altogether more important: representatives of all 55 Uefa members will convene on Tuesday by video conference. On the table are the futures of the Champions League, the Europa League and Euro 2020. Major decisions beckon.
Euro 2020
The Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina said at the weekend: “We will propose that Uefa postpone the European Championship.”
Postponement has gone from a possibility to an inevitability and not merely because Rome was one of the host cities. The question is: to when?
The logical date would be next summer, in effect applying the same schedule but 12 months later. That would come at the expense of the Nations League and the expanded Club World Cup, both of which would have to be called off.
While the inaugural Nations League was a pleasant surprise to many, it is scarcely established in the calendar. A 2021 Euros makes most sense.
But another mooted idea would be to play Euro 2020 in December, at least meaning it actually is in 2020 and allowing clubs to complete their domestic season in June (and maybe even July).
While European football will be disrupted for a winter tournament when the 2022 World Cup takes place in Qatar, there seems an obvious flaw in that strategy: the 2020-21 calendar could already be more packed than usual if the start to next season is delayed to allow this season to conclude or if divisions have to be expanded.
Another issue, and a more pressing one if December is chosen, is when the eight play-offs originally scheduled for the next week are rescheduled for.
Champions League and Europa League
The Champions League has four quarter-finalists, but the second leg has not been played in the other four ties.
The Europa League is still more of a mess, with the first leg played of only six of the eight last-16 ties. In theory, they have 17 and 23 games remaining respectively, culminating in finals on May 30 and 27.
In reality, that will not all happen. Surely, the finals will have to be rescheduled for June, at the earliest, and not least out of fairness to the Italian and Spanish clubs, whose countries have been most affected by coronavirus and who will not be playing again soon.
One possible scenario is for one-legged ties in the quarter- and semi-finals. Another mooted plan is for the Champions League semi-finals and final to all take place in Istanbul – the host city, which has so far escaped the worst of the Covid-19 crisis – and its Europa League equivalents in Gdansk.
Certainly it seems some games may have to be played at neutral venues and perhaps all will have to be staged behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, a further issue is that the qualifying rounds for next season’s Europa and Champions League normally start in the summer – before the 2019-20 season could be concluded. Some will have to be put back.
Domestic leagues
Uefa and Fifa have a duty to relax and expand the normal calendar so that the domestic leagues can eventually finish. Both Serie A and La Liga representatives have said that is their intention. The governing bodies ought to help accommodate them.
It entails changes other regulations, which could affect players whose contracts expire on 30 June. In turn, that could have a knock-on effect for the transfer window and its dates.
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Arteta, Gobert and other sports stars to have tested positive for coronavirus
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Former Manchester United player Marouane Fellaini tested positive in China where he plays for Shandong Luneng. He has now been discharged. Reuters -
Juventus' Paulo Dybala said both he and his girlfriend Oriana tested positive though both were in "perfect conditions". AP Photo -
Milan's sports director and club legend Paolo Maldini and his son Daniel, who plays for the same club, tested positive for Covid-19. A statement from the club said both are well. EPA -
Wu Lei of Espanyol. "Wu Lei has mild symptoms and is currently undergoing treatment," the CFA said in a statement, adding that they had been given the news by La Liga strugglers Espanyol. The 28-year-old striker, China's best-known player, is in self-isolation at home in Barcelona, Xinhua news agency said. Getty Images -
Kevin Durant is reportedly among four Brooklyn Nets players who have tested positive for the coronavirus and are in isolation. The injured Durant, who has yet to play for the Nets since signing for the team last year, confirmed to The Athletic website he had tested positive for the virus. "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We're going to get through this," Durant was quoted as saying. AFP -
Juventus confirmed on Tuesday night that French midfielder Blaise Matuidi had become the second player from the club to test positive for the coronavirus. Italian defender Daniele Rugani was the first player to play in Serie A to test positive last week. EPA -
Valencia's Eliaquim Mangala, left, was one of five players and staff at the club to test positive. "I'm feeling good and I have no symptoms associated with the virus. However, I am confined in house and separated from my family," he said on Twitter. AP Photo -
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive on March 14 but said he was "feeling better already" the following day. Staff who had been in contact with him were self-isolating. AFP -
Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert, who apologized for his careless actions before he was diagnosed with novel coronavirus, has pledged to donate more than half a million dollars to health services and arena workers affected by the pandemic. AFP -
Valencia's Ezequiel Garay was the first La Liga player to test positive on March 15. "I tested positive for coronavirus, I feel very well and now all that's left is to do what the health authorities say, which is to isolate myself," he said on Instagram. All football is suspended in Spain. EPA -
Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi was the first Premier League player to test positive. He said on Twitter on March 13: "As you may be aware I had the virus for the last couple of days which I have recovered from. I am following the health guidelines and self-isolating myself from everybody for the week. I hope to see everybody soon and hopefully will be back on the pitch very soon. Reuters -
Juventus' Italian defender Daniele Rugani was confirmed to have the virus on March 12. "You've read the news, so I want to reassure everyone who's worried about me, I'm fine," Rugani said on Twitter. The entire Juventus squad is to spend two weeks in quarantine. AFP -
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was the second NBA player to contract the virus. The NBA season has been suspended. AP Photo -
Manolo Gabbiadini of Sampdoria is one of five players to have tested positive at the club. "I still want to tell you that I'm fine, so don't worry. Follow all the rules, stay at home and everything will work out," said Gabbiadini on Twitter. PA Wire. -
Sampdoria's Omar Colley, right, was confirmed to have coronavirus. Lapresse via AP -
Albin Ekdal of Sampdoria tested positive. Italy is one of the worst affected countries. Getty Images -
Fabio Depaoli, left of Sampdoria, said on Instagram that he was "fine" after testing positive. Getty Images -
Morten Thorsby, left, was one of five Sampdoria footballers to test positive. Lapresse via AP -
Fiorentina foward Patrick Cutrone, on loan from Premier League Wolves, is one of three players to test positive at the club. EPA -
German Pezzella, right, of Fiorentina, said on Instagram that his symptoms had disappeared after he tested positive. EPA -
Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic was another confirmed case. Fiorentina said in a statement on March 13: "The club is in the process of undertaking all the necessary isolation procedures in accordance with the regulations, starting with identifying all the people who have had contact with the player." EPA -
Hannover's Timo Hubers, right, was the first player in Germany to be diagnosed. Reuters -
Paderborn's Luca Kilian tested positive. The Bundesliga has been suspended until April 2. EPA
