France Bans ALL Sports Events until September due to Coronavirus as Spain Ponders La Liga and La Vuelta Futures

FRANCE has banned all sports events until September due to the Coronavirus, leaving Spain to ponder about the future of La Liga and the big La Vuelta cycle race.

The clear decision over sport came from the French Prime Minister Edoaurd Philippe today (April 28), and he said that closed doors events were banned as well.

Phillipe said: “The 2019-2020 season of professional sports, including football, will not be able to resume.

“It will be possible, on sunny days, to practise an individual sporting activity outdoors, obviously respecting the rules of social distancing.”

The immediate implication is for French football, with the Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 seasons cancelled, as well as the rest of the country’s rugby union fixtures.

The soccer decision follows hard on the Dutch league calling it a day on their season a few days ago, and is a slap in the face for European footballing body, UEFA, who had threatened penalties against countries who cancelled fixture lists prematurely.

Their mooted sanction of not allowing teams into the Champions League and Europa League for next season now seems hollow, and the French move now turns the spotlight onto leagues in Spain, England, and Germany.

La Liga is desperate to finish their campaign for financial reasons with closed door games, but training has not even resumed yet, as the clock continues to tick on.

There’s also the small matter of the current UEFA Champions League and Europa League competitions.

Away from football, the Tour de France cycle race start had already been delayed by two months to the end of August, and that now falls outside the parameters of the French government’s time line for the return of sporting events.

It’s possible that it might be granted an exemption as it is the Blue Ribbon event for France internationally, and roadside spectators could be barred.

If the Tour is delayed yet again, then Spain’s La Vuelta (already pushed back to October at the earliest) could well become a casualty.

Late September also sees the rearranged dates for the French Tennis Open in Paris, which was postponed from this May.

The Prime Minister’s announcement certainly gives hope that the Roland Garros centre will have some Grand Slam tennis to stage come the autumn.