Start in late June, a busy calendar and the absence of fans: the RPL considered options for ending the season

A busy schedule and finish in early August 

Monday, April 28, all football fans from Russia were waiting with great interest, because the RPL leadership promised to discuss with the clubs the theme of the resumption of the season. Together, they were supposed to indicate the dates of the restart of the national championship, as well as answer a number of other important questions, in particular, about the presence of fans in the stands.

Following the discussion, the league published an official statement on its website. Firstly, the RPL noted that UEFA asked the national associations to complete the season until August 2. Already on the 3rd, they should send to the Union of European Football Associations a list of European Cup participants from their countries for the next season. And until May 25, it is required to transmit options for completing the current one.

"Nyon emphasizes the need to finish the championships and determine the participants of European competitions according to the sport principle," the statement said.

Currently, the RPL is considering two options for ending the season. According to the more optimistic of them, the Russian championship will be resumed on June 21. At the same time, the first two rounds will be held in a weekly cycle to “smooth the load on the players”, the next five - with matches in the middle of the week and the last - also in the weekly cycle.

The second option involves restarting the championship on June 28. However, in this situation, the players will have to be more difficult, because they will need to go on the field twice a week for the last seven rounds. But the fate of the Cup of Russia is not yet clear. The RPL noted that the decision on the tournament will be made by the RFU.

End of season in FNL and expansion of RPL

However, the Russian football leadership admits that despite all efforts, the season will not be played out. In this case, Zenit is recognized as the champion, and tickets to the European competition will be distributed “according to the occupied places,” said RFU Secretary General Alexander Alaev. No one will fly to the FNL, but two teams from the second most powerful league will go up for promotion. Thus, the Premier League can temporarily expand to 18 clubs.

“If the situation does not allow the championship to resume, and the state authorities make appropriate decisions, we recognize the championships as held. We fix all the places without the departure of the last two teams in the FNL. Thus, the next season in the RPL will be held with 18 teams. If Rotor and Khimki pass licensing, they will replenish the major league, ”Sport Express quoted Alaev as saying. 

At the same time, “because of the tight calendar,” you will have to refuse to host the Russian Cup for one season, and the fourth RPL team will receive a ticket to the Europa League instead of the trophy holder. 

If the season can still be completed, two teams will go to the FNL, taking the last places in the RPL. At the same time, the season in FNL and PFL will probably not be played at all. In the RFU, this is considered impractical. 

“The main thing now is to maintain the integrity of the FNL for the next season. We see no reason to force players who have not played for six months to spend 11 matches in a month. FNL played 27 rounds, more than two-thirds, and we believe that it can be considered completed. The question of the Cup of Russia remains open, FNL clubs play in it, which, most likely, will not continue the season. Many nuances, we will make a decision on this tournament later. There are dates on the calendar, ”Alayev added.

This decision has already caused resentment on the part of Torpedo head coach Sergei Ignashevich, because the black and white ones, who fell to fourth place in the FNL, in this situation will not be able to qualify for an increase in class.  

“It’s necessary to finish the game. It is unfair to record today's FNL table if we are talking about the principle of sports in football. It remains to play a small number of matches, and all the fun is yet to come. If the RPL resumes the tournament, why not us? It’s logical that either everyone finishes the championship, or everyone finishes out, ”Ignashevich wrote on Instagram. 

In turn, FNL President Igor Efremov called the resumption of the season in the league "contrary to common sense." In his opinion, to spend the 11 remaining tours in a month is almost impossible. 

The RPL also discussed another important issue - the presence of fans in the stands. The leadership of the league emphasized that while maintaining restrictions, the matches will be held without spectators. 

“The RPL is working on a draft regulation of matches without spectators. He will describe all the important aspects of the organization of the championship under the current restrictions. Including the procedure for admission to the territory and the stadium bowl of the participants in matches, club employees and the main broadcaster, ”the statement said.

However, at the moment, the more pressing topics for the league are the return of legionnaires to Russia and the resumption of training. The RPL promised to study the restrictions of the authorities and, together with Rospotrebnadzor, formulate recommendations for clubs.

“They will touch upon the specifics of conducting individual training in quarantine and self-isolation mode, medical testing of players. The document will also spell out the conditions under which it is possible to start group training and then proceed to full-fledged team training at club bases, ”the statement said.

Syomin’s support and “Akhmat’s” disagreement

In most of the domestic clubs, the RPL verdict was received with optimism. Coaches and football players hope that the season will still be played out. So, this was stated by the head coach of Lokomotiv Yuri Semin.

“It doesn't matter if the situation in the table suits me or not. I hope for a positive development of events, so that we can play this championship. Most importantly, we all need to stay healthy, ”said the specialist. 

Agreed with him and the mentor of Amkar Vadim Evseev. He emphasized that the season must be completed "so that it is not remembered as inferior."

“Good news after the general meeting of the RPL. Two games a week is a normal schedule to enter preparation mode. If in the end there are no prerequisites for the resumption of the season due to the epidemiological situation in the country, I consider it correct to finish the championship according to the current table. Yes, some disputes or claims may arise, but more than 2/3 rounds have been played, the table is fair. But after the next season 16 teams will remain in the RPL again. So four fly out. It will not be easy, but interesting, ”Evseev wrote on Instagram.

The desire to bring to the end of the current national championship was announced by the Director General of CSKA Roman Babaev. However, according to him, there is no clarity on this issue yet.

“How can one announce something if there is no decision of the authorities? Based on the UEFA recommendation, before May 25, clubs need to decide whether to play the season or not. I will probably express not only my opinion, but also the position of the majority. If there is an opportunity, prerequisites, then the season must be played out, ”the functionary emphasized.

But in the “Akhmat” fighting for survival, they opposed one of the options for the resumption of the season, without specifying which one it was.

“So far no decisions have been made. Of course, we discussed various options and scenarios for continuing the championship, based on the current situation. At the moment, there are two options for the further development of the championship. Everything will depend on the epidemiological situation in the country and on the decision of the authorities, ”Sport24 quotes the club’s club’s general director Akhmed Aidamirov.