KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: UEFA has met representatives of Europe’s national associations by video conference again without being able to nail down anything further concerning a return to action, even behind closed doors.

Simultaneously, reports from Italy and Spain suggested that tentative dates had been reached for completion of the Champions League in August.

The European federation’s preoccupation is to see domestic competitions completed by the end of at least July so that it can wrap up its financially important Champions and Europa Leagues the following month and generate a ‘sensible’ draw for the 2020-21 tournaments.

However, until national governments and health authorities give the green light for the lifting of lockdown restrictions European football has no means of forecasting any resumption dates at any level.

Hence a statement conceded the obvious that UEFA would have no option but to accept events where national associations had decided to halt leagues where they were halted.

Suggested Champions League dates:

Aug 7: Juventus v Lyon, Manchester City v  Real Madrid

Aug 8: Bayern Munich v Chelsea, Barcelona v Napoli.

Aug 11-12 and 14-15: Quarter-finals

Aug 18-19 and 21-22: Semi-finals

Final : Aug 29 (Istanbul).

UEFA statement

UEFA’s statement after today’s meeting said:

UEFA today met its 55 member associations via videoconference and presented an update of the options being looked into by the two working groups that were created mid-March. 

A variety of calendar options were presented covering both national team and club competition matches.

The funding of National Associations through UEFA’s HatTrick programme was also discussed with UEFA reiterating its commitment to meeting the payments to member associations as planned.

There was a strong recommendation given to finish domestic top division and cup competitions, but some special cases will be heard once guidelines concerning participation to European competitions – in case of a cancelled league – have been developed.

Any decisions on the above topics would be announced after the UEFA Executive Committee on Thursday.

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