Aurélien Fortier, the LNB met this Friday in a virtual general assembly but will not decide until Tuesday on the continuation of the championships for the duration of the confinement. What did you take away from this meeting?
“That overall, there is no consensus emerging from the discussions during this GA on the issue of matches behind closed doors. President Béral tried to explain to us that a priori, there would be no government aid in the event of suspension of the championship during confinement and that we could not resort to partial unemployment. But we are not asking the State to subsidize short-time working or an exemption from charges, simply that we can offer our partners, subscribers and spectators a show worthy of their commitment at the start of the season. “
It is for this reason that the executive board of the club categorically rejects the idea of matches behind closed doors?
” Yes. Sport is entertainment and going behind closed doors would have dramatic financial repercussions. “
During the videoconference that followed the GA, Alain Béral estimated that economically, there was a lethal risk for some clubs. Can the SLUC be threatened?
“We are concerned like any club. We have a cash flow that is not too bad today thanks to the help of partners and the support of the Metropolis. There is no problem in the very short term. But if we had to reimburse partners and subscribers for each match that would be played behind closed doors, it would be different… ”
“We are in total vagueness”
Today, all the partners have remained loyal to SLUC?
“So far, we haven’t lost any. And in terms of subscribers, we are at around 670 against 720 last season. Is it close. The two sectors that are impacted are the ticket office and the concession that we have for the refreshment bar. “
To choose, the executive board therefore prefers that the November matches be postponed to a later date rather than played behind closed doors?
” Yes. But as we speak, I don’t even know if the League has the capacity to make it compulsory to play behind closed doors. We are in total vagueness on this subject (Editor’s note: President Béral however exposed on Friday that the LNB would not force clubs to play behind closed doors at all costs). We must return Monday morning to the League the answers to several questions asked, if we agree to play behind closed doors at home, outside in particular… We will know more on Tuesday. “
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