FIFA medical chief Michel D’Hooghe has called for all football to be delayed until September earliest with seasons to be scrapped as a result.
Speaking on the resumption of football, D’Hooghe warned that it is a matter of ‘life or death’.
“The world is not ready for competitive football. It is not a matter of money — it is a matter of life and death.
“If there is one moment where absolute priority should be given to health and medicine, it is this.
“That is why I ask everybody to be very careful before starting competitions again.
“I will be happy if we can have nothing before the start of next season.
“If they could start the 2020-21 in September they could eventually avoid a second attack from the virus.”
This comes the same day as France officially cancelled their football and rugby leagues for the season.
The Premier League recently opened up on their plans to resume in June with games to be played behind-closed-doors for the remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, Spain has cleared professional sports athletes return to training under strict conditions while the Bundesliga had flagged 9 May as a potential resumption date.
D’Hooghe has slammed the Premier League’s plans and maintained that footballing bodies need to listen to health authorities regarding the situation.
It is a terrible responsibility at the moment — the most dramatic situation we have lived in since the Second World War.
“You cannot play in the Premier League when players have to remain two metres apart.
“Have you ever tried playing football in a mask? This does not avoid social distancing.
“Players are together on the field, in the dressing room.
“Of course, you could say, ‘Let’s play behind closed doors’.
“But even then, you will see groups of fans coming secretly together in rooms just to support their team anyway.
“Testing is an important point but you have to repeat them.
“If one of the players becomes positive, you have to put the whole group into quarantine.
“Is that a solution for a normal competition?
“Football has to be patient. It has to listen to the authorities and respect the basic health rules.”
