INTERVIEW
The 2019-2020 football season will not resume due to the coronavirus health crisis. The Professional Football League has approved the end of season modalities: it will be stopped on the 28th day, with a ranking in the quotient according to the ratio between number of points taken and number of matches played. PSG is thus classified champion, followed by Marseille and Rennes. Toulouse and Amiens are however relegated to Ligue 2. Bernard Caïazzo, co-president of AS Saint-Etienne and president of the Premier League union which brings together the leaders of Ligue 1 clubs, calls for unity and calm in the face of this unprecedented situation, on Europe 1: "Let us all be together, united".
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"Do not ask a Stéphanois what he says about Jean-Michel Aulas"
"The public authorities have taken courageous decisions, they must be respected. It was necessary to decide quickly to put an end to all this Lépine competition of the various projects of each other. Everyone looks at his interest without perhaps seeing that around him there is a difficult situation, "says the president of Premier League. "This decision does not matter much, we are in an extremely tragic health situation"
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On Europe 1, Nathalie Boy de la Tour, president of the LFP justified these difficult decisions, which seemed "the least bad". Some club presidents, like Jean-Michel Aulas, have already expressed their dissatisfaction. The president of Olympique Lyonnais has announced the filing of an appeal. "Do not ask a Stéphanois what he says about Jean-Michel Aulas", jokes Bernard Caïazzo. "Everyone is free, responsible and settles these matters as they wish. Now one thing is certain: the season is over and we have to go to a new season.
All mobilized for the survival of French football
The chairman of the ASSE supervisory board hopes to resume the season as soon as possible with the possibility of receiving the public. "The most pessimistic think that in 2020 we will no longer be playing football, I hope this will not be the case. Our mission is more important than the rankings, the resources, it is the survival of French football" , says Bernard Caïazzo, who recalls the economic issue and the jobs around professional sports clubs.
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He admits that for French football, the situation is difficult. The clubs have no revenue but heavy charges to pay. "The government has promised to help us find solutions. We will have to fight, like all the leaders of French football. This can create some annoyance in both parties. It takes kindness and tolerance. "