In a letter to its more than 200 members – including Red Bull Salzburg, Rapid, Austria Vienna and Sturm Graz – the independent advocacy group of the European football clubs (ECA) speaks of one “Existential threat” because of the standstill caused by the coronavirus pandemic. This document is available to the Reuters news agency.
It confirms that the easing of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) and licensing rules is currently being discussed with UEFA because football in Europe may have to pause for months. “We are all football managers who are responsible for the well-being and sustainability of the clubs we run and are exposed to a real existential threat”ECA chairman Andrea Agnelli wrote in the letter.
“Biggest challenge our game and our industry have ever had to face”
“With football now coming to a standstill, so do our sources of income, which we depend on to pay our players, staff and other costs.”added the 44-year-old, who also heads Italy’s record champions Juventus Turin. “Nobody is immune and timing is critical”, stressed Agnelli, for whom the Corona crisis “The biggest challenge our game and industry have ever faced”.
The Italian industrialist also said that the ECA is working on realistic scenarios “So that football game operations at national and European level” could be resumed. Ways should be found “To support club finances during this period of social and economic crisis”. According to Agnelli, UEFA is working on a new calendar model for football in Europe, taking into account the health, financial and economic challenges.
(APA)
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