“I would have liked either a little earlier for the schools of football, because in the month of August there are a lot of kids that are a little bit alone and I believe that football can be a place of welcome, such as schools”, said the leader in an interview broadcasted by the canal+Channel.The president of the French football Federation, Noël Le Graët, in the final of the Trophée des Champions in Guingamp (Côtes-d Armort), on September 21, 2019. (FRED TANNEAU / AFP)
According to Noël Le Graët, clubs, football fans can “expect to resume” their activities “in early September”. “I would have liked either a little earlier for the schools of football, because in the month of August there are a lot of kids that are a little bit alone and I believe that football can be a place of welcome, such as schools”, said the president of the French football Federation (FFF), Sunday, may 17, in an interview on Canal+. The practice of group sports and contact is restricted in France since mid-march due to the new coronavirus.
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“We are in discussions with the ministry [of Sport]. Football, thankfully, leave very quickly, and fortunately a lot faster than some businesses or stores, or a few people who will be unemployed and in trouble”, added Noël Le Graët in this interview broadcast in the show “Canal Football Club”. With the déconfinement progressive started Monday in France, the practice of sport has been framed by the authorities, which restrict the time for the practice of sports or contact, two attributes that relate directly to football.
Regarding the resumption of the football professional, including the season 2019-2020 was arrested on 30 April on the orders of the government, Noël Le Graët has not specified a calendar. The authorities had suggested that the competition could resume in August. The officer said he was convinced that the final of the Coupe de France (PSG-Saint-Etienne) and the Coupe de la Ligue (PSG-Lyon), suspended due to a pandemic, will take place in the curtain raising of the next season. Even if this means that they are closed to the public to comply with the requirements health.