UEFA-hired virologist reccommends abandoning season immediately

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UEFA have hired a leading European virologist to assess the football landscape of the continent, with the expert warning the governing body to abandon the season immediately.

Marc Van Ranst is a virologist and epidemiologist at the Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven and has advised UEFA that “playing football in the next few months is not an option at all”.

The comments come with the governing body threatening member associations with a ban from Europe should they cancel their league campaigns early.

“Playing football in the next few months is not an option at all,” said Van Ranst [Scottish Sun].

“I have advised UEFA this and I am convinced they now realise this.

“I understand from football clubs in Belgium that it would take a minimum of three to four weeks for training before they can start playing again. Playing football this season is not an option.

“I told them they cannot blame the Belgian Pro League from making their initial decision.

“Even talk of playing football behind closed doors, that can’t be allowed because we have seen fans gather together to have their own parties and that defeats the point.

“The facts are we now in early April and there are thousands of new cases every day across Europe.

“How can anyone talk about restarting football if we don’t even know if we are at the peak of what is only the first stage of the virus?

“Football is very much a side issue for the moment, but it will become important again when we examine our exit strategy.

“I’m afraid, mass events like football and music festivals will be the very last things to be allowed again.”

Van Ranst’s comments come with the SPFL in turmoil as Rangers call for the head of chief exec Neil Doncaster [Rangers] for foul play concerning a potentially league-ending vote.

Despite growing evidence to suggest Dundee voted no to the proposals, this has not been recognised by the SPFL as the nation awaits the outcome on a vote which would decide champions and relegations.

As Scotland squabbles over what should happen next, should UEFA take Van Ranst’s advice the nation might not have to worry about coming to a final solution themselves.