UEFA Give Zungu's Side Hope Of Relegation U-Turn?
09 June, 2020
Bongani Zungu's club Amiens were forcefully relegated after the Ligue 1 campaign was cancelled in April. However, a letter from UEFA has seemingly given the Bafana Bafana star's side hope within their relegation fight.
The French top flight's season was officially ended in April after France prime minister Edouard Philippe announced that no sporting events would be permitted to take place, even behind closed doors, until September.
However, with LaLiga, Serie A and the Premier League set to check out Bundesliga in resuming their campaigns either this week or another, many are beginning to wonder if the French authorities perhaps cancelled their league season too early.
Several clubs, including Olympique Lyon, who missed from UEFA Champions League qualification, and Zungu's Amiens, who were relegated, have gone the legal route in a bid to really have the decision reversed.
Le Parisien contacted UEFA for his or her stance on the problem, and European football's governing body insisted that the cancellation of France's top flight was premature.
"As stated by UEFA a couple weeks ago, the French authorities' decision to cancel the growing season was taken relatively early," a letter from UEFA to the French publication read.
A scenario where Ligue 1 is restarted and then completed with some kind of play-off system could happen, in line with the report.
"We would for starters like to clarify that it's the competence of national associations to select the format of their domestic competitions, specifically by taking into account the circumstances and restrictive measures specific to the united states," the letter continued.
"Nevertheless, and so long as the national associations will be able to co-ordinate with the competent national authorities a potential restart of a domestic competition, August 2, 2020 will be an appropriate date to get rid of the domestic competitions."
Following the Ligue 1 campaign was called off in April, Paris Saint-Germain were crowned champions, while Olympique Marseille and Rennes were confirmed as France's representatives in next season's edition of the UEFA Champions League.
In the bottom of the table, Amiens and Toulouse were relegated, while Nimes could still face a potential relegation play-off.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za