“We don’t want to jeopardize the health of fans”: how UEFA and RFU extended football quarantine

"For undefined period"

On March 17, UEFA held a historic video conference, at which a decision was made to postpone the 2020 European Championship. Also, all other tournaments were postponed indefinitely, including European competitions and national championships. But it was assumed that the current season should end already at the end of June.

However, over time, it became increasingly apparent that the initial UEFA forecast was too optimistic. And on April 1, a new video conference was held with the participation of the secretaries-general of all 55 European associations. On it, the terms of the “football quarantine” were extended.

Firstly, all matches under the auspices of UEFA, which were planned to be held two weeks ago in June, including butt meetings for the right to participate in Euro 2020, were postponed indefinitely. And the European Women's Championship was postponed from 2021 to 2022. Secondly, four youth European championships of different ages among men and women were canceled or postponed at once.

The dates for the European Cup playoff games on March 17 were not called, but according to media reports, the final meetings of the Champions League and the Europa League were to be held in late June. Now it’s obvious that these plans are not destined to come true.

At the same time, they still intend to finish the season in UEFA. The Royal Football Union of the Netherlands reported on this in its social networks. The new estimated completion date for all tournaments is August 3.

UEFA also emphasized that they are going to help clubs in difficult times. In particular, we are talking about a postponement to complete the licensing process and mitigate the requirements of the financial fair play.

“The Executive Committee agreed that the current exceptional circumstances require a number of special measures to assist national associations in their work. The Executive Committee supported the proposal to provide associations with additional time to complete the club licensing process until the procedure for selecting clubs for UEFA tournaments for the next season is reapproved, ”the organization’s website says.

“This decision was made taking into account the epidemiological situation”

UEFA supported the decision in the RFU. The Russian Football Union immediately after the videoconference extended the suspension of all tournaments in the country until May 31. At the same time, the head of the organization, Alexander Dyukov, stressed that UEFA really wants to bring the current season to the end. According to him, he may resume at the beginning or end of June. In this case, the new season starts in mid-August-mid-September.

“We are really looking forward to the return of football. Our fans took the suspension of the competition with dignity and deliberately. We see the contribution of the football community to the fight against the epidemic: players and coaches actively participate in information campaigns in support of measures to protect against the spread of the virus, train responsibly, setting an example for fans how to spend time in self-isolation. Football is the main sport in the world. And the first matches played will become a symbol that the crisis has been overcome, ”the RFU press service quotes the functionary.

In Russia, they also listened to other UEFA recommendations. In particular, the RFU announced a shift in club licensing terms. The RPL noted that in determining the new deadline “they will be guided by the recommendations of UEFA”.

Another important issue that has been much discussed in the media in recent days is a cut in the salaries of footballers. In Russia, these measures have already been taken at Spartak with the full consent of the red-white players. The leading football authorities of the country welcomed this precedent. According to Dyukov, the parties in this situation should find a compromise. And the leader of the RPL Sergey Pryadkin promised "to come with the clubs to a consolidated, informed decision" on this issue.

As for other measures to financially support clubs, the head of the RFU spoke about the possible easing of tax regulation and "creating conditions for attracting private capital." He promised to discuss these measures with the government in the near future.

In turn, the RPL also said that they did not plan to prematurely end the championship, and emphasized that the health of players and fans was put in the first place.

“This decision was made taking into account the epidemiological situation and is necessary to combat the spread of COVID-19. We do not want to jeopardize the health of fans and all participants in matches. We hope for understanding and serious attitude from fans and clubs in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. We all must unite and be as responsible as possible in the current situation, ”the RPL press service quoted Pryadkin as saying.

“There is a risk that quarantine will continue in the summer”

Meanwhile, in Russia, the suspension of all tournaments until May 31 practically surprised no one. So, the honorary president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Alexander Zhukov emphasized that it was simply impossible to act otherwise in this situation.

“There is nothing to be done, this is an objective assessment of what is happening. Of course, all the fans are upset because of this pause. How many events were planned in the world, and all of them were canceled. The decision of the RFU is correct, it was impossible to act otherwise. I believe that the Russian championship will be played out to the end, ”Zhukov quoted R-Sport as saying.

Aleksey Sorokin, general director of the organizing committee of the Russian part of the European Championship 2020, agreed with him, who complained that in many European countries there was an extremely difficult situation in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.

“UEFA is a serious organization, therefore the health of players and spectators is in the first place. This is a serious challenge. Today, UEFA evaluates what is happening in countries with the worst, but not the best, situation. In particular, look at what horror is happening in the southern countries, hence such decisions, ”the TASS official quotes.

The new recommendations did not come as a surprise for RPL clubs, which will hold a general meeting on April 3 and discuss a plan for further actions.

“It all depends on how the situation in our country develops. If it normalizes, I think the best decision to finish the championship. In June and July, you can safely conduct matches if the pandemic does not develop. A meeting will be held on April 3, where we will discuss all these issues. I think the best option is to finish the game in the middle or end of June, not earlier. In any case, everyone will need to hold training camps and get in shape, ”said Pavel Khudyakov, sports director of Tambov.

In turn, the Sochi CEO Dmitry Rubashko said that the team is still in quarantine and is waiting for permission to resume training. And the chairman of the board of directors of Lokomotiv, Anatoly Meshcheryakov, noted that the railway workers are going to act within the framework of the recommendations adopted by the RFU and UEFA. The owner of Spartak Leonid Fedun gave the most pessimistic assessment of what is happening.

“We will see how the situation with the coronavirus will develop. If you can finish the game, then good. But there is a risk that the quarantine will continue in the summer, ”the president of the red-white expressed concern.