Video conferences are increasing. But the question remains and becomes more and more difficult to elude: should we end the sports season now, without waiting for a recovery after May 11, the theoretical date of the end of confinement? "Yes", decided the professional handball and volleyball leagues. "Yes", also decided the French Football Federation about amateur level competitions. However, the Professional Football League (LFP) and club presidents are still studying the scenarios for a resumption in June of the Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 championships. A much discussed option. And, now, very contested by the players.
Their union, the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP), calls in a forum to World dated April 21, at the premature end of the current season if the safety conditions for the players are not met: "Let us renounce a resumption of the championship under these conditions". For its co-president, Sylvain Kastendeuch, replaying in June would be a solution " rushed and dangerous " : "The economic emergency must not take precedence over the public health imperative. "
Majority among players, the UNFP relays the concerns of its members. On April 17, the daily The team revealed the first results of an online consultation conducted by the union. Based on just under a thousand anonymous responses, nearly three in four players said they feared an injury if they recovered in June and feared the risk of the disease spreading.
Two days later, pending authentication of the votes, the UNFP was unable to deliver with precision the full results. Through its communications provider, the union simply indicated that to date, "The majority of players say they are ready not to resume" the current season.
Preserve physical integrity
In addition to the risks associated with the coronavirus, the UNFP requests to preserve the physical integrity of the players. If the championship were to resume on June 3 or 17, behind closed doors, as envisaged by the LFP, the risk would be to multiply the matches every three days to end the season in late July or early August. Especially since the League hopes to launch next season from August 22.
In a report this month, the Association of Professional Football Club Doctors warned of the danger: this pace can cause increased fatigue and a six-fold increase in the incidence of muscle injuries after the second game ends.
The UNFP also puts forward economic arguments. In an impact study sent to World, the union estimates the losses caused by a stoppage of the championship at 383 million euros for the clubs of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, between box office receipts (49 million), commercial revenues (140 million) and television rights (194 million) .
However, according to the study, the future television rights contract would make it possible to compensate for these losses: from next season, with the arrival of the Spanish group Mediapro, the amount will amount to 1.15 billion euros per season . Another solution, according to the UNFP, "To deal with club cash shortfalls" : the LFP could request "A loan of 400 million euros "By the Public Investment Bank, "With a state guaranteed rate of 0%".
In late March, in its calculations communicated to the sports ministry in the event of the championship not being resumed, the LFP expected losses three times greater than those indicated by the UNFP.
"Each passing day brings us closer to a championship that would not end"
Today, however, doubts about the possibility of ending the season are beginning to creep into the camp of club presidents. While still declaring itself " for the resumption of Ligue 1 ", Jean-Michel Aulas, the head of Olympique Lyonnais, said on April 17 in an interview with the regional daily Progress, to have "The impression that each day that goes by brings us closer to a championship that will not end in 2019-2020".
On behalf of the coaches, these " senior executives " of which he chairs the specialized union, Raymond Domenech explains to World don't have any yet"Sliced opinion" on the debate. The former coach of the Blues says he is aware of the "Special interests of each other". Including sports issues: if the season is not repeated, what about the final ranking, promotions in Ligue 1, demotions in Ligue 2?
For players, despite the anonymized consultation of the UNFP, no one is claiming for the moment the possibility of exercising their right of withdrawal. "Like any employee, a professional footballer benefits from this right" when the work situation presents a reason for serious and imminent danger to his life or his health, confirms the lawyer Tatiana Vassine, specialized in sports law.
In addition to future government decisions on deconfinement, the calendar for French football will also and above all depend on the Union of European Football Associations, UEFA. The executive committee of the latter is to meet Thursday, April 23 to try to harmonize a situation already far from being simple at the national level.
What football after the coronavirus crisis?
Find all of our interviews with French football players on the consequences of the health crisis:
- 1/6. Bernard Caïazzo, president of AS Saint-Etienne and of the employers' union of Ligue 1 Premier League clubs: "There will be a before and after the crisis, football will have to think differently"
- 2/6. Gérard Lopez, owner and president of the Lille club (LOSC): "We no longer finance a football club with a fries hut and patronage"
- 3/6. Olivier Delcourt, owner and president of Dijon Football Côte-d´Or (DFCO): "We don't spend money we don't have"
- 4/6. Christian Gourcuff, trainer of FC Nantes: "Football will have to return to a real economy"
- 5/6. Philippe Piat, president of the National Union of Professional Footballers and FIFPro: "Players are financial assets, this is the number one danger in football"
- 6/6. David Dellea, sports economist (PwC): “In football, there has always been resistance to regulation; this time the urgency is there "
