Leandro Pereira and FC Bruges (right) will be crowned Belgian champions after the announcement of the championship stoppage due to coronavirus. - Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP / SIPA

The Belgian government announced Wednesday to suspend the organization of all sports competitions in the country until July 31, paving the way for a permanent end to the football season as desired by the majority of professional clubs in Belgium.

This decision was "acted" in the wake of a press release from the Pro League, the association of Belgian clubs, which will study the "modalities for the end of the season" at its general meeting scheduled for May 15.

FC Bruges champion

In the event of a permanent cessation of competition, FC Bruges, leading at the time of the stoppage of the Belgian championship due to the coronavirus in mid-March, would be crowned champion, according to the Pro League. “The Pro League takes note of the decision taken today by the National Security Council which plans to cancel professional football competitions until July 31. It goes without saying that the Pro League and its clubs will respect this decision, ”said the press release from the Belgian clubs.

Belgium was the first European country to announce in early April that it was considering ending its championship due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But the decision was awaiting ratification at the general meeting, particularly in the face of the warnings from UEFA, which has continued to push for a resumption of competitions during the summer.

The players and the staff of Eibar confide their "fear" of resuming via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/4wXyciWlJd

- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) May 6, 2020

If the Pro League approves as expected the final end of the season and the freezing of the classification, Belgium would become the third European country to close the 2019-2020 financial year in advance after the Netherlands and France. Conversely, Germany obtained the government green light on Wednesday with a view to resuming the Bundesliga. England, Spain and Italy are also considering a recovery. In Belgium, the restart of collective training will be authorized from June 15.

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Coronavirus: The LFP decides to end L1 and wants to freeze the ranking (almost) as it is

  • Covid 19
  • Belgium
  • Coronavirus
  • Soccer
  • Sport