Sports fans in France learned some unwelcomed news on Tuesday. The country’s Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced that all major sports events will be banned until September due to coronavirus pandemic. This also means that the French Ligue 1 will most likely have to cancel the remainder of its 2019/20 season.
Philippe broke the news on Tuesday when he talked about loosening the social distancing rules in the country.
“Big sporting events will not be able to take place before September,” said Philippe. “The 2019/20 season, notably for football (soccer), will not be able to resume.”
Ligue 1 and lower-tier soccer competitions in France were reportedly planning to resume activities in May while aiming to have games in June. The clubs had between eight and nine games left to finish the season, but it looks like they won’t get a chance to do it.
It remains to be seen how Ligue 1 approaches the ensuing questions of a champion, European competition spots, and relegation/promotion.
Before the season was suspended in March, Paris-Saint Germain was at the top of the table with 12 points ahead of second-placed Olympique de Marseille. At the bottom of the table, Toulouse was last with only 13 points and was the only team without any realistic chances to stay in Ligue 1.
Previously, Netherland’s Eredivisie also canceled the remainder of the season, deciding they will not have a champion this year. The league also decided to keep the current club structure, meaning teams won’t get relegated.
