COVID-19: An international update and overview from EFAA members

In the wake of coronavirus, professional football has undergone drastic and unprecedented changes. With every country worldwide adapting to this new reality and adopting measures uniquely fit to their domestic industry, we have asked EFAA members to provide updates on the economic and legal situations affecting football in their respective countries.

We will continue to update this post with new information on a regular basis.

Argentina
• AFA looking to maintain all of the teams still in the first division; two more teams in second division going to first division (so no relegations, only promotion)
• the clubs have suspended trainings, and competition is suspended
• there are no measures (as of yet) requiring players take salary cuts or termination of contracts

Australia
• There have been no official statements as to the status of the season, but clubs are preparing to resume trainings in July and the A-League competition in August

Belgium
• The Jupiler Pro League has been cancelled (a final decision will be made on May 15th)
• The Belgian government has banned football until July 31st

Bulgaria
• Training begins this week, while the First Professional Football League will resume matches on June 5th, with the intention of finishing the 2019/2020 season on July 11th

Czech Republic
• The FACR will pay financial support to small clubs or clubs that focus on youth education
• The top two leagues intend to restart competition on May 25th (with the competition ending in mid-July); the matches will be without spectators

England
• The Premier League will provide a £125 million fund for the English Football League and the National League, while also donating £20 million to the NHS
• The PL is targeting a return to training in small groups from May 18th and team training from the beginning of June. Individual training on club grounds has begun by a number of clubs
• The PL will potentially restart the competition (without spectators) in June

France
• Ligue 1 has officially been cancelled
• The current standing were used to name a champion ad divide European tickets; multiple clubs have stated that they will not accept cancellation and will take legal action

Germany
• Individual training and training in small groups has been resumed
• The competition will restart on May 15th without spectators
• The Bundesliga GA will decide on a specific safety protocol

Italy
• Players were allowed to resume individual training at clubs on May 4th, while team training will not be allowed until May 18th at the earliest
• Serie A and the FIGC have both expressed the wish to complete the season, but the Italian government has not given permission as of yet

Japan
• No club has announced any reductions of the players’ salaries
• Players are discussing to lower their salaries voluntarily
• J.League is postponed until June
• The J.League will not have relegations this year, but two clubs will be promoted from J2 to J1 (but no relegation from the top tier, J1), making a total of 20 clubs in J1

The Netherlands
• The government introduced temporary emergency measures for work retention (Tijdelijke Noodmaatregel Overbrugging voor werkbehoud (NOW)), which makes it possible to receive financial support. Clubs are not (yet) eligible for the NOW due to the fact that they are unable to demonstrate the prerequisite of having at least a 20% loss of turnover
• Based on the law, clubs are obliged to pay 100% of the salaries of the players;
• The Dutch Eredivisie has been cancelled. The current standings are final, but there will be no title awarded to the club in first place (this is the first time in the league’s history that no champion has been named)

Nigeria
• The central government has banned all football activities and imposed restrictions such as social distancing, but financially or otherwise there have not been any measures, issued by the central government, that affect football clubs. Local governments however, as they own or sponsor most of the local football clubs, have stated that they will help the local clubs.
• Players are training by themselves, as training is also banned until further notice.
• The clubs have come together and discussed the current situation. They have agreed to prioritize payments to players, as the salaries “must be paid." There haven’t been any reductions of salaries. If problems arise, as said before, the local government have stated that they are willing to help.
• The football season is postponed until April 18; after this, the situation will be reviewed again

Norway
• The league is postponed until May 23rd.
• The Norwegian government has provided emergency packages for all players who have been (partially) laid off. Players earning between 75,000-600,0000 krones have recieved up to their full pay for a maximum of 20 days. Non-Norwegian players on short-term contracts do not fall within this measure.
• Several clubs have resumed training in small groups on a voluntary basis

Spain
• Players started training in small groups on May 6th
• La Liga is aiming to restart in mid-June, but no official statements have been made
• Some clubs are reaching agreement with their players on salary reductions
• For non-professional clubs, the RFEF has implemented a subsidy system to aid programs so that the situation does not financially affect amateur clubs

Switzerland
• Short-term work allowance is made available for temporary employment agreements (coaches and players). The working hours of employees is temporarily reduced. The employee will receive a compensation of up to 80% of the loss of wages
• All taxes are delayed
• There is CHF 50 million emergency aid for the professional sport sector as an interest-free loan
• Training begins this week, though there is uncertainty as to if the Swiss Football League will resume (June 20th at the earliest)