Playing behind closed doors better than not playing at all

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says playing football matches behind closed doors would help bring a sense of normality back into fans’ lives – and would be better than not playing at all.

With league and cup competitions around Europe unresolved and millions of people stuck at home, there is plenty of desire among the sport’s governing bodies to find a way to get matches back on people’s television screens.

On Monday, La Liga clubs were given permission to return to training as long as they follow distancing guidelines, while Ligue 1 has announced plans to resume play in mid-June.

“The priority is the health of fans, players and managers,” Ceferin told the Corriere della Sera.

“I am an optimist by nature, I believe there are options that can allow us to start tournaments and complete them.