Arsenal and Chelsea legend Cesc Fabregas reckons Ligue 1 season was axed ‘too soon’ as Lyon line up appeal
ARSENAL and Chelsea legend Cesc Fabregas who now plays for AS Monaco reckons the Ligue 1 season was axed “too soon” amid the coronavirus crisis.
And seventh-placed Lyon – who were pushing for a spot in Europe – have threatened legal action after the 2019-20 campaign was scrapped.
France has been one of the worst hit countries by coronavirus, with 26,310 confirmed deaths from 176,658 cases.
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And last month, the French government announced that all sporting events would be KO’d until September.
With a 12-point lead and a game in hand PSG were crowned champions and the decision effectively keeps the Ligue 1 table as it was when play was halted on March 8, with Amiens and Toulouse relegated.
But Fabregas, whose Monaco side sat in ninth place, feels that the decision may have been made too early.
He told beIN SPORTS: “It was a big decision that was made and I can understand why they took it
“But maybe it was taken a little too soon, considering a lot of the big league are still all trying to resume.
“Although I completely understand the meaning behind it and it’s better to be safe in all accounts, because the most important is the families and the health security of everyone and support this 100 per cent.
“But maybe we could’ve considered individual training, where you have basically no risk. You’re not touching anyone, you’re not close to anyone.
“See if everyone was getting closer to football behind played all over the world.
“Obviously, it’s very difficult and I understand someone needs to make decisions. We just have to do what they’re telling us.
“Difficult moment in our professional lives and personal lives, but we just have to hold on and everything will be fine in the future for sure.”
Lyon have blasted the decision to scrap Ligue 1 and announced they intend to appeal the move which saw them miss out on European qualification for the first time in 23 years.
In a statement on Thursday the club said the top flight should have been resolved on the pitch rather than in the boardroom although they acknowledged PSG as the rightful winners.
Lyon reckon French football chiefs acted too hastily and went against Uefa’s proposal that qualification for its club competitions next season must be done on “sporting merit”.
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Belgium was the first country to pull the pull the plug on its top-flight with Club Bruges declared champions but no relegation.
In Holland Ajax were denied the Eredivisie title on April 24 after dutch PM Mark Rutte banned football.
The Amsterdam giants were leading rivals AZ Alkmaar on goal difference before the league was suspended.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has given the green light for the Bundesliga – which last played on March 8 – to restart on May 16 behind closed doors.
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Clubs in Denmark were given the all clear to restart the season and are expected to decide a start date in the coming days, having kept cases and deaths from the killer virus relatively low.
Top-flight chiefs in England are trying to find ways of playing the final 92 games of the Premier League — with a neutral venue masterplan in place – but the Government’s Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has warned the game is yet to get the “green light”.
The neutral venues are set to be discussed in a meeting of the 20 clubs on Monday, with a June 12 restart date being touted.