PSG now champions, say French league bosses on calling off 2019-20 season
KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: The French league has declared Paris Saint-Germain as champions after ending the 2019-20 season early following the government’s orders for a summer-long suspension of sport.
PSG held a 12-point lead over second-placed Marseille when the season was halted in March. Lorient have been confirmed as second division champions following a video conference. They go up with Lens and replace releated Amiens and Toulouse.
Didier Quillot, the French league ceo, said: “There might be appeals but our decisions are solid.” Quillot said the LFP had until May 25 to tell UEFA which clubs would be qualified for European competitions.
The decision will be a massive relief for Lorient who had lost four of their last five games and were leading Lens by one point with Ajaccio two points behind and Troyes one further back.
Lyon are considering taking legal action to oppose the decision.
The situation in Italy remains confused after FIGC president Gabriele Gravina refused to accept government suggestions that the season should be called off.
Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora had warned that football directors “should start to think of a Plan B” because of the possibility of an enfored halt to the season.
Gravina responded: “Plan B in the event of a definitive stoppage in football? My sense of responsibility leads me to have a plan B, C, D. But if it has to rhyme with ‘it’s over’, I say that, as long as I’m president of the FIGC, I will never sign for blocking the championships because it would be death of Italian football.
“I am protecting the interests of everyone so I refuse to put the signature in a total block, except for objective conditions, related to the health of the players, coaches, technical personnel and experts, but someone You have to tell me clearly and you must stop me from going ahead.
“Can you imagine how many disputes we would have to face? Who is promoted? Who is relegated?”
Reviewing the financial danger, Gravina added: “The economic damage is divided into categories: with the total closure, the system would lose between €700m and €800m. If we have to play behind closed doors, the loss would be €300m. If it were to be resumed with open doors, the loss would amount to €100-150m although this is not feasible.”
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