COVID-19: Ligue 1 season over as French PM bans sports until September

Edouard Philippe, prime minister of France, says there will be no professional football in the country until at least September due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Philippe spoke on Tuesday at the national assembly while unveiling France’s plans to exit social distancing.

“The big sporting affairs cannot occur before September,” he said, according to Sky Sports. “The 2019-20 professional football season cannot return.

“It will be possible, on sunny days, to practice an individual sporting activity outdoors, obviously respecting the rules of social distancing.

“It will not be possible, neither to practice sport in covered places, nor team or contact sports.”

The decision means the 2019-20 season in Ligue 1 and 2 will therefore end with immediate effect. The decision also puts further pressure on UEFA with respect to the Champions League.

Paris Saint-Germain are currently top of this year’s Ligue 1 table and look set to be crowned champions for a third successive year, having opened up a 12-point lead over Marseille.

Marseille, on the other hand, occupy the final Champions League spots alongside Rennes, while Lille are set to secure a place in the Europa League.

The burden is now left on the shoulders of the Professional Football League (LFP) and French Football Federation (FFF) to decide how to deal with the promotion, relegation and European qualification.

The PM also disclosed that after the end of the country’s nationwide lockdown on May 11, gatherings of more than 10 people (indoors or outdoors) will remain banned until at least June 1.