PREFACE: It might as well be Summer before we soccer balls kicked in competition again. However, one league may have decided to join Belgium and wait until the Fall. There is good news as well.
UEFA: UEFA is still planning for a June restart, but said that some leagues could be cancelled “in special cases” because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All 55 European national FAs met by video conference on Tuesday when ways to finish the season were outlined. Each involved a June start, with the Champions League final on August 29th.
UEFA had warned that ending a league prematurely could result in forfeiture or Champions League and Europa League places.
“There was a strong recommendation given to finish domestic top division and cup competitions, but some special cases will be heard once guidelines concerning participation to European competitions – in case of a cancelled league – have been developed,” UEFA said in a statement after the meeting.
UEFA also officially announced the new dates for the Women’s European Championship to be July 6-31, 2022 in England. The Olympics and Men’s Euro have already been moved to 2021 due to the pandemic.
DUTCH EREDIVISIE CANCELLED?: The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced on Tuesday that it “intends not to continue” the 2019-20 season, but will consult Uefa before making a final decision after the Dutch government extended a ban on major events until September 1st.
Ajax had been leading AZ on goal difference with both sides on 56 points with nine matches to play. The clubs will meet on Friday “to discuss the consequences of the decision while training grounds will reopen “under strict conditions” so that players can train.
“It’s a massive blow for all the professional clubs at the highest level,” Dutch football journalist Marcel Van Der Kraan told BBC World Service.
“The Eredivisie was hoping they could resume. But we know it is impossible to organize matches with fans and the Prime Minister says it is not wise to do it without fans.”
SPONSORING A CAUSE: FC Barcelona are going to give sponsor naming rights to the Nou Camp for the first time since its opening in 1957. The revenue will go towards fighting the coronavirus.
The La Liga champions have given the title rights to the Barca Foundation, who will find a sponsor for 2020-21.
“Revenue will be used to fund research projects and the worldwide fight against the pandemic,” the club said in a statement.
“FC Barcelona and the Barca Foundation consider it a necessity that at this time of humanitarian crisis, the institution should use all its resources to fight against the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences.”
Spain at the time of this reporting have had 204,178 confirmed cases of the virus with 21,282 deaths. A total of 82,514 people are reported to have recovered.
FLAMENGO: While FCB is opening up its stadium to naming rights for the cause, Brazilian side Flamengo is opening up their brand for fans to produce masks. According to their marketing director, several companies to sign a contract to exclusively license protective masks with the the club’s logo.
However, concerned with people’s health and creating a new source of income to its supporters, the club chose instead to release for free the use of the Flamengo trademark to anyone who wants to produce and sell the product and to micro-companies with annual revenue up to US$36,000 or 180,000 Brazilian Real. This initiative is a joint achievement of the Licensing and Social Responsibility areas of Flamengo.
“The fight against COVID-19 demands health care, responsibility and, above all, solidarity. Flamengo is aware of its role in society and is also part of this fight. We hope that masks with our emblem made directly by our fans can help many people”, said Flamengo vice-president of Communications and Marketing Gustavo Oliveira.
The brand guidelines are available for download on the club’s website and the most creative masks will be shared by Flamengo official profiles on social media. The free license is restricted for face masks manufacturing until next August. Please keep in mind that the club’s site is in Portuguese and Google Translate could come in handy.
