In France, football bows out

By Guillaume Mahot

After Belgium, whose officials recently gave a positive opinion on the end of the football season 2019/2020 (that still needs to be ratified), and the Netherlands, whose football league merely cancelled the current season (no champion this year), without forgetting Scotland, it is now time for France to make drastic decisions to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic in the best way.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe hold a speech before the National Assembly in Palais Bourbon, Paris, this Tuesday, where he said that the season 2019/2020 in sports would not be able to be led to its term. While many folks were trying to find solutions, more or less credible, to continue, this official statement sets the record straight.

Football, the most popular sport in the world, is now off in France. Depending on the evolution of the disease, the next season (2020/2021) should begin by the end of summer. Some clubs may complain, and it has already begun, but this is it. After two thirds of championship played, the French professional league put an end to 2019/2020 and gave away awards and blames after a look at the last ranking and a method of calculation that strengthens that ranking (number of points obtained per game which has been played).

Paris Saint-Germain, without too much surprise, grasps a ninth title in the history of the club. The Parisians will dispute the next Champions’ League with Marseille and Rennes, respectively second and third of Ligue 1 before the interruption of the season. A first time for Rennes of Malian right back Hamari Traoré.

Lille will play the Europa League, perhaps with Reims and Nice that still need to get a clarification on a possible participation to the second European tournament. 

At the bottom of the ranking, Amiens and Toulouse collapse in second division, replaced by Lorient and Lens, whose squads were the best ones in Ligue 2 this year. Some clubs like Lyon (no qualification for a European tournament) and Amiens wish to bring the case to the court.

Africa Global News Publication