PSG’s title hopes in limbo after Ligue 1 season gets called off

All sporting events cancelled till September in France

PSG players reuters (File) PSG players celebrating a goal | Reuters

PSG’s hopes for a 9th Ligue 1 title are uncertain after the french domestic league was cancelled. The defending champions are leading the table with 68 points having played 27 games. With 11 games to go, the Parisians were enroute to a 9th title before the league was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. PSG have a twelve-point lead over Marseille at the top of the table. 

The French Professional League (LFP) had earlier announced plans to restart the league on June 17 after European Football Association (UEFA) had set domestic leagues a deadline of August 2 to reach their natural conclusions. Philippe confirmed that there was no possibility of the league restarting before September. “The big sporting affairs cannot occur before September,” he said in a national assembly on Tuesday. “The 2019-20 professional football season cannot return.”

The governing bodies of the french domestic league are set to meet in May to decide on the fate of the league standings. There is still uncertainty over whether the league will be declared null and void. A complete cancellation would mean PSG would miss out on their ninth crown. But if the current standing are to be declared final, then they would be crowned champions with Marseille and Rennes qualifying for the Champions League along with PSG. Nimes, Amiens and Toulose would then be relegated. This could be unfair since with ten games in hand, all these clubs could have avoided relegation. While PSG may deserve the title, other clubs stand much to lose in terms of a fighting chance for the Champions league spots and avoiding relegation.

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