As the coronavirus pandemic continues to hit Europe hard, UEFA has decided to suspend sporting activities indefinitely. The Champions League, Europa League and Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs have been suspended indefinitely. Italy, Spain, France, Germany and the Uk have been hit severely by the coronavirus outbreak making it almost impossible to conduct any sporting activity in the region.
UEFA and its members were hoping to complete all games by June 30 earlier, but the rising number of corona cases have jeapordised those plans severely. With the Euro 2020 qualifiers and some international friendlies postponed, it opens a narrow window for domestic and other European games such as the Champions League to be completed, in all likelihood, behind closed doors. FIFA has already extended player contracts until the end of the season, whenever that is.
UEFA president Aleksander Cefering had already warned last weekend that the domestic season could be lost if games were unable to resume by June 30. Suspension of domestic leagues could deal a heavy blow for Liverpool who have had an exceptional season with only one defeat and one draw from twenty-nine games. They are just one win away from lifting the trophy. But a complete cancellation of the league would mean they would have to start all over again whenever the new league resumes. They are already out of the Champions League after losing both their games against Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16, which included a humiliating 2-3 defeat against Atletico on their home turf.
The Champions League has been paused at the Round of 16 stage with Atletico, PSG, Leipzig and Atalanta moving through to the quarter-finals. The other fixtures yet to be played are Manchester City vs Real Madrid, Barcelona vs Napoli, Juventus vs Lyon and Bayern Munich vs Chelsea. There has been no word from UEFA on whether the Champions League would be called off yet.
