PSG and Lyon’s Champions League seasons in JEOPARDY as all football in France is suspended until at least September
LYON and Paris Saint-Germain may be unable to complete their Champions League campaigns after sporting events were banned in France for four months.
Several European countries are gradually winding down their lockdown restrictions in the coming weeks amid hopes they have passed the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
And while France is among them, prime minister Edouard Philippe announced on Tuesday that football would be suspended until September at the earliest.
The country has 23,293 confirmed deaths from 165,842 cases of Covid-19, leading to a decision to prevent any team or contact sports from taking place - whether or not fans are in attendance.
Philippe stated: "Big sporting affairs cannot occur before September.
"The 2019/20 football season cannot return."
This leaves Uefa in a tight spot with August eyed as the best period to complete the Champions League and Europa League.
Current plans involve the Premier League, Serie A and LaLiga returning to training next month before a fast tracked end to the domestic campaign by July.
Germany's Bundesliga clubs are already preparing for a resumption as early as May 9.
No French teams are left in the Europa League but PSG have already qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals.
Last month's victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Parc des Princes came in front of an empty stadium as part of early measures to tackle coronavirus yet a large crowd of fans gathered outside and wildly celebrated the win.
In addition, Lyon lead Italian giants Juventus 1-0 after their last-16 first leg match in February.
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Uefa have preliminarily booked in August 7 and 8 as dates for the final four last-16 games to take place.
An anticipated final is then pencilled in for August 29.
Whether Lyon and PSG can hold any future matches in neutral locations, with fixtures due to be played behind closed doors regardless, remains to be seen.
On Monday, Uefa handed leagues a four-week deadline to lay out their plans for finishing the 2019/20 season - following a decision by the Eredivisie to cancel their campaign.