UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has said that leagues that end early without permission due to the coronavirus pandemic could face a European competitions ban next season.
Belgium became the first European top-tier league to cancel the rest of its season on Thursday, with Club Brugge crowned league champions. The decision came hours before UEFA, the European Club Association and the European Leagues umbrella group sent a joint letter to their members saying it was of “Paramount in important that including League”, be decided on the field.
Ceferin criticized Belgium for ending season prematurely without recourse to UEFA solidarity slogan. Threatened that they may face ban next season.
“I don’t think this is the right move, as solidarity is not a one-way street,” Ceferin told German TV station ZDF. “You cannot just ask for solidarity and then just decide however it fits you at that moment. And I must say that they, and the ones who might decide that way, risk of not being able to play in European competitions next year.”
“Speaking on the €600m in the UEFA cash reserve. “We will have to use them, but I don’t think that we are in danger of being financially weak or something like that,” he added.
“I used to question that, I was wondering why we have so much money on the account instead of giving it to the federations, clubs and stakeholders. Now I understand how important it was because if we wouldn’t have it, we would be in serious trouble now”.
All European countries have suspended their leagues, the Champion League and Europa league has also been suspended indefinitely.
