1:31 Former Rangers and Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd says the SPFL must launch an investigation after claims their season-ending vote was ‘deeply flawed’
An investigation has found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the SPFL in relation to the submission of Dundee’s vote on the resolution to end the lower leagues in Scotland.
Independent non-executive SPFL director Karyn McCluskey has written an open letter to clubs and supporters, outlining the conclusions reached by auditing firm Deloitte following an investigation into the timeline of events on April 10 when Dundee’s vote went missing, before they changed their voting intentions the following week.
- No SPFL wrongdoing over Dundee vote; Rangers dispute
Italy – Serie A
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced that professional sports teams can resume training on May 18.
Serie A has been suspended since March 9, when the government ordered a nationwide lockdown.
0:46 Valentina Fass explains the steps that would have to be put in place for Serie A football to return in Italy.
Twelve rounds remain in Serie A, plus four other games that were postponed from the 25th round. The Italian Cup was suspended after the first leg of the semi-finals.
The move means that Serie A could potentially resume playing games in June, though Conte said a decision on that will not be made until a later date.
- Italian sports teams can resume training on May 18 – full story
Spain – La Liga
Health minister Salvador Illa says professional football in Spain is not likely to return before the summer.
Spain has been without football since March 12, two days before the nation went into a strict lockdown, in order to battle a coronavirus outbreak which has claimed more than 22,000 lives in the country.
0:28 Spain’s health minister Salvador Illa says he cannot say that football in the country will return before summer and added that the country will have to become accustomed to a ‘new normality’
The Spanish league has already said that play will not resume before late May and the government’s health officials, led by Illa, have the final say with regard to authorising the return of sporting activities.
Illa told the media on Sunday that: “It would be reckless for me to say now that professional football will be back before the summer. We will continue to monitor the evolution (of the virus) and the guidelines we will present will indicate how different activities can return to a new normalcy.”
- Spain health minister: Reckless to predict football before summer – full story
France – Ligue 1
French football authorities are aiming to restart Ligue 1 on June 17.
In a statement released to L’Equipe, following a meeting held last Friday, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) confirmed that the intention is to stage fixtures again from that date, but it was not made clear if games would be played behind closed doors.
3:02 Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has called for Ligue 1 to be deemed ‘null and void’ as sport in France deals with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic
French publication L’Equipe have reported that teams would have to play every three days to ensure the regular campaign finishes by July 25, allowing time for relegation and promotion play-offs to be completed by August 2.
The French Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and St Etienne has been rescheduled for June 27 while the League Cup final, in which PSG are due to meet Lyon, has been pencilled in for July 11.
The last matches in Ligue 1 were played on March 16.
Germany – Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is ready to return on May 9 if the German government gives it the green light, league officials have confirmed.
Its resumption, behind closed doors, remains dependent on government and all federal states’ approval, and Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert warned providing an exact date “would be presumptuous and is not in our hands”.
“If we should start on May 9, we are ready. If it is later we will be ready again,” Seifert said. “We can only offer the framework conditions.”
Finishing the 2019/20 season remains the priority in German football, with Seifert insisting failing to do so would mean “the Bundesliga would be a collateral damage to the coronavirus crisis”.
A maximum of 300 people can be involved at the stadium on match day, according to Sky in Germany. The Bundesliga is collaborating with five different laboratories to ensure adequate testing for coronavirus. Players will be tested at least once a week, which would require around 20,000 tests for this season.
Read the full story here
Netherlands – Eredivisie
0:53 Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan reacts to the news that the Eredivisie season has been voided
The Dutch Eredivisie season has been ended with immediate effect, meaning league leaders Ajax have been denied the title.
There will also be no promotion to the Dutch Eredivisie or relegation from the top flight, following an agreement reached over a video conference call between the Dutch FA (KNVB) and clubs.
Ajax were top of the Eredivisie table, ahead of AZ Alkmaar on goal difference, with nine rounds of matches to play when the season was suspended.
0:20 Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar says it is ‘pity’ to be denied the chance to win the Eredivise title but understands why the season was cancelled
The Eredivisie has put Ajax forward to go directly to the play-offs of the Champions League, with AZ playing in the second qualifying round. Third-placed Feyenoord go straight into the group stage of the Europa League with PSV and Willem II qualifying for the second qualifying round for the competition.
But AZ have released a statement saying they are considering their options after indicating displeasure with the judgement, particularly in relation to the awarding of European places.
The settlement of places for European competition next season is subject to ratification by UEFA.
Read the full story here
Belgium – Pro League
Possible resumption of the season remains open after decision on April 27 to postpone vote on cancelling the season until May 4.
The Pro League’s board of directors had previously recommended the season should be ended, with Club Brugge declared champions in a decision at the beginning of April.
Belgium’s sporting authorities are awaiting more clarity on the possible easing of lockdown rules and a window of opportunity to continue playing.
Read the full story here
Portugal – Primeira Liga
All matches in the country’s Primeira Liga were suspended indefinitely on March 12, with 10 matches still to play this season.
The Portuguese League has drawn up provisional plans to complete the current season by the end of July.
The Algarve’s football association (AFA) is open to the idea of hosting the remaining league football matches ‘behind closed doors’ in the Algarve.
Champions League & Europa League
UEFA is considering proposals which would see the Champions League final being played three months later than scheduled at the end of August.
The Champions League final was due to take place at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on May 30.
- UEFA considering CL final on August 29
Under one of the new proposals, which UEFA will discuss next week, the final would be moved to Saturday, August 29 at the same venue.
The Europa League final which was due to be played in Gdansk on May 27 could now be played on Wednesday, August 26.
Sourse: skysports.com
