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So, the last 48 hours have seen a bit of drama with UEFA over when 2019-20 seasons will, or can, end.
Here's a thread to explain roughly where we are, with apparent threats to the Belgian league, and how we got there. The Belgian league is not worried about its Euro places.
Here's a thread to explain roughly where we are, with apparent threats to the Belgian league, and how we got there. The Belgian league is not worried about its Euro places.
First and foremost, UEFA quite rightly wants seasons to end. Not just the big leagues with real financial concerns, but the whole of European football.
It wants European football to be "decided on the field".
Therefore, no public date was set after Wednesday's UEFA meeting.
It wants European football to be "decided on the field".
Therefore, no public date was set after Wednesday's UEFA meeting.
Some sections of the media were briefed that not one league at the UEFA meeting brought up the possibility of curtailing the 2019-20 season, part of a deliberate show of unity from the European football family.
That unity began to crumble within a couple of hours.
That unity began to crumble within a couple of hours.
The Dutch FA published a statement that all leagues "must" finish by Aug 3, meaning its league had to begin by mid-June. The Dutch FA said this was unlikely and was planning ways to end the season.
UEFA was not impressed, and the statement was changed to say Aug 3 was "an aim."
UEFA was not impressed, and the statement was changed to say Aug 3 was "an aim."
Just 12 hours later, and the Belgian league announced it was to end its season immediately and award the title the Club Brugge. The unity further cracks.
UEFA hits back with a letter which clearly referred to Belgium and how a termination could affect European qualification.
UEFA hits back with a letter which clearly referred to Belgium and how a termination could affect European qualification.
The letter read: "Participation in UEFA club competitions is determined by the sporting result achieved at the end of a full domestic competition, a premature termination would cast doubts about the fulfillment of such condition."
But the Belgian league does not fear this.
But the Belgian league does not fear this.
Also out of the UEFA meeting, reported in the Belgian media yesterday, was that the extension to August 3 was "at the insistence of the Big Five (England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France)."
So the big question now is, can UEFA keep the European family together on this?
So the big question now is, can UEFA keep the European family together on this?
UEFA said yesterday (which I have said on here time and again over the last month) that "a joint management of calendars is strictly required as the conclusion of the current season must be coordinated with the start of the new one."
But can this really be achieved collectively?
But can this really be achieved collectively?
Begium's local administrators have indicated they have no intention of sanctioning matches, even behind closed doors.
Mayor of Leuven, Mohamed Ridouani, says he will almost certainly ban any attempt to play the second leg of the promotion playoff to prevent crowds gathering.
Mayor of Leuven, Mohamed Ridouani, says he will almost certainly ban any attempt to play the second leg of the promotion playoff to prevent crowds gathering.
With the Dutch likely to move in line with Belgium, and the Belgian FA thinking other lower and mid-level European leagues will end their leagues soon, UEFA's attempt to move as one is under threat.
Certainty is more valuable to these leagues than commercial contracts.
Certainty is more valuable to these leagues than commercial contracts.
UEFA doesn't want Belgium to act as the domino effect for other leagues. Why? Because it is much easily and cleaner for next season to be delayed to get the Big Five over the line if European football does this in unison.
Once mid-level leagues like Belgium and Netherlands bow out, they will look to start 2020-21 when feasibly possible (virus depending).
Why does this matter? Biggest issue is alignment of European transfer windows. If leagues start overlapping, transfer windows get very messy.
Why does this matter? Biggest issue is alignment of European transfer windows. If leagues start overlapping, transfer windows get very messy.
It would seem Belgium will press on with ending its season at a ratification meeting on April 15. The majority of clubs had called for this before yesterday, it's what they want.
They don't want to wait. What helps is the force majeure clause in the broadcasting deals.
They don't want to wait. What helps is the force majeure clause in the broadcasting deals.
KEY: Belgium clubs hardly have to fear any financial loses from cancelling now, unlike other leagues, as the Pro League's contract with broadcasters has a force majeure clause which excludes repayment.
The three broadcasters of the Belgian league have already paid in full.
The three broadcasters of the Belgian league have already paid in full.
UEFA may be correct that "any decision of abandoning domestic competitions is, at this stage, premature and not justified," in targeting an end in July and August.
But it will find it increasing difficult to bring the whole of European football along with the Big Five.
But it will find it increasing difficult to bring the whole of European football along with the Big Five.
And UEFA's show of strength was undermined on Friday morning when UEFA vice-president Michele Uva said that teams can still be admitted into next season's UCL and UEL if the league cannot finish "due to a government decree". And this seems likely.
These are the leagues outside the Big Five still with teams in Europe THIS season, all UEL, so far more likely to toe the line with UEFA.
Austria
Denmark
Greece
Turkey
Scotland
Switzerland
Ukraine
Austria
Denmark
Greece
Turkey
Scotland
Switzerland
Ukraine
