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Uefa: Finishing football season behind closed doors better than not playing at all

POOL UEFA/AFP via Getty Images
POOL UEFA/AFP via Getty Images

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin believes that finishing the season behind closed doors is a better alternative to scrapping the 2019/20 campaign entirely.

However, Ceferin has also warned that the coronavirus pandemic could lead to this season's Champions League and Europa League being abandoned if the tournaments cannot be finished by September,

European football's club competitions are indefinitely postponed, with the finals of both competitions called off and no new dates allocated due to the escalating Covid-19 pandemic.

However, Uefa remains intent on finishing the Champions League and Europa League seasons - and Ceferin says games should be played in empty stadiums if possible.

"The fact is that we really don't know much," Ceferin told ZDF Sportstudio.

"We are waiting for the development of this terrible situation in the world, and mainly in Europe.

"Football isn't the same without fans. But it is definitely better to play with fans than without fans.

"The thing is, football is absolutely not the same without spectators.

"But it is still better to play the game behind closed doors and have it on TV, which is what the people need and want because it brings positive energy to their homes, than not playing at all.

"That's what the people want, that brings positive energy, and it will be July or August. We can't play it out in September or October."

Pushed on whether the season could be abandoned totally, Ceferin said: "If the authorities do not allow us to play, then we cannot play."

The coronavirus pandemic has given Uefa plenty of work over recent weeks, with Financial Fair Play one of the matters that needs looking at.

Asked whether Uefa is considering postponing FFP for a year as proposed in Germany, Ceferin said: "It's definitely one of the possibilities.

"We have to be flexible because the clubs are in deep financial problems. They cannot perform the FFP now.

"For now, we are postponing it to see how the season goes, but we can decide either way. We are also looking at the German option."

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