Lyon (AFP)
Multiple cases of Covid-19, disappointing results, financial revenue at half mast: Asvel-Lyon-Villeurbanne, who had to give up on Tuesday to face the Greek club Panathinaikos for the 3rd day of Euroleague, is facing the start of the season very complicated.
The Rhone team, which has eight positive coronavirus cases in the workforce, was unable to present the required minimum of players for the match planned at the Astroballe.
The Euroleague must rule on the result of this meeting, which Asvel should lose by forfeit on the score of 20-0 as stipulated in the health regulations of the body.
And the staging of Thursday's game against Red Star Belgrade is also very uncertain, if not unlikely.
"New tests will be carried out as soon as possible to determine whether or not Asvel will be able to play," said a statement from the club, entered for the second year in a row in the flagship competition of the clubs Europeans with the aim of obtaining a permanent license there.
- Eight positive players -
On Saturday, Asvel, who had already had to do without, during four meetings, Guerschon Yabusele, affected by Covid-19, announced that two players (Kevarrius Hayes and Matthew Strazel), as well as head coach TJ Parker, were tested positive.
The case of American Norris Cole was added on Sunday.
Written on the match sheet in Cholet (82-73 victory), he played the first forty seconds of the game, provoking the ire of the mayor of the city, Gilles Bourdouleix, who wants to file a complaint against Asvel and the League for endangering the life of others.
The results had arrived during the warm-up and as the player was registered in the starting five, assistant coach Frédéric Fauthoux assured that he had no choice but to line him up, at the risk of damage the club's image.
Especially since Asvel again recorded four new cases Tuesday morning, two players and two staff members, after PCR tests passed on Monday.
Then two other players declared "feverish symptoms" Tuesday afternoon, causing the game against Pana to be canceled.
- Disappointing sports results -
But the Covid-19 is not the only concern of leaders who deplore disappointing results.
In addition to the Euroleague where Asvel is ranked 16th out of 18 after two initial defeats against Valencia (65-63) and Milan (87-73), the team is also struggling in the league (8th) with two victories (Châlons-Reims, Cholet) for two defeats (Dijon, Bourg).
The five-star recruitment of the Rhone however gave them the status of big favorite to win the national title.
"In terms of quality and names on paper, it's very strong. We can not hide," said captain Charles Kahudi before starting the season.
Finances are another cause for concern because of the lowered gauge to 1,000 spectators per match, imposed in the Lyon Metropolis by prefectural decree due to coronavirus.
The club announced a provisional budget of 11.5 million euros, counting on an assistance of 3,600 people at the Astroballe, its hall which could accommodate 5,600 according to the protocol in force at the start of the season, abandoned since the hardening of health measures in recent weeks.
As a result, the subscription campaign has been suspended.
"The ticket office represents 20% of our budget. We will lose a million euros if this gauge is maintained until the play-offs and 1.5 million if it concerns them. This gauge breaks our whole model", had complained in September the deputy chairman, Gaëtan Müller, with the daily Le Progrès.
A real nightmare that the female Asvel also lives, also affected by the Covid-19 and which has still not been able to start its season.
© 2020 AFP