An amateur football match. - Seb Wells / Pixathlon / SIPA

Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced Thursday the final cessation of all of its amateur and youth championships, conversely raising the prospect of a "recovery" of National 1 (3rd division) and D1 women's seasons.

The decision of the body, which met on Thursday its executive committee, relates to "Leagues (regional), Districts (departmental), the national championships of National 3, National 2, D2 women and futsal, and national youth championships (female and male), "she said in a statement.

COVID 19: FFF decision regarding amateur championships and FFF competitions pic.twitter.com/8CQghHZYAa

- FFF (@FFF) April 16, 2020

Faced with the worldwide spread of the new coronavirus, these competitions had been suspended since mid-March, like the professional championships in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, managed for their part by the Professional Football League (LFP). The latter hopes to be able to resume the thread of the season in the coming weeks.

"The FFF hoped for a resumption of competitions as the social role of football is essential", but "in the light of the latest announcements from the President of the Republic, extending the sanitary confinement measures until May 11, this possibility of reasonable resumption of activities are no longer possible, ”commented the Federation, which chose to freeze the rankings during the season.

The last Cup matches “rescheduled soon”

The organization chaired by Noël Le Graët, however, did not decide the fate of National 1 (third level men) and the first female division, hoping for a "harmonized treatment of high level women and men", in agreement with a possible recovery L1 and L2.

“At the moment, the possibility of postponing the calendar for these two competitions from June makes it possible to envisage a recovery. The sporting challenge of the end of the season for the National 1, with the entry barriers to the professional world in L2, and that of the D1 Arkema with the principle of qualification for the European UEFA competitions, also participates in this reflection ”, continued the FFF.

The semi-finals and the final of the French Women's Cup as well as the final of the Men's French Cup, which must oppose PSG at Saint-Etienne, "will also soon be rescheduled according to sanitary conditions", did she also clarified.

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  • Noël le Graët
  • Soccer
  • FFF
  • Coronavirus
  • Sport