UEFA chief weighs up prospects of Leeds United's season being finished on the pitch

Leeds have not played since the 2-0 win at home to Huddersfield Town on March 7 and the Championship season remains suspended due to the country’s ongoing battle against coronavirus.

The EFL still hope to fulfil their remaining fixtures when safe to do so but clubs in League Two have already voted to finish the season early while league campaigns in Belgium, Holland and France have also been curtailed.

Should the remainder of the Championship season be cancelled, the EFL’s framework would see the division decided by an unweighted points per game model meaning front-runners Leeds would be declared champions with West Brom runners-up.

EFL chairman Rick Parry has already stated that he would expect promotion and relegation if divisions were finished early - including relegation from the Premier League who are hoping to resume action in June.

FA chairman Greg Clarke has also said the FA would look to block any moves to declare divisions null and void and after seeing the German Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 return at the weekend, Ceferin said he expected four fifths of Europe’s leagues to be completed on the pitch.

“We have a concrete plan of finishing the European season,” Ceferin told beIN Sports.

“Of course, this summer we will have to play without spectators at the stadiums.

“I think the majority of leagues will finish the season. The ones who will not, it’s their decision.

“But they will still have to play qualifiers if they want to participate in the European UEFA competition.

“I can say that the European season will be finished, if everything is as it is now, in August.

“As things look now, I’m sure that we can finish the European season and this means UEFA competition.

“The national leagues are a separate thing and they will decide separately how they want to proceed. But I think at least 80 per cent will finish the season.”

EFL chairman Parry has already stated how the EFL season must be completed by July 31 when around 1,400 players will be out of contract.

EFL clubs were initially advised to target May 16 as a date to return to training but the EFL have now told their players not to return to training until May 25 - next Monday.

Parry had previously stated the EFL’s plan to play all remaining games in a 56-day time frame during the summer months behind closed doors.

But League Two sides gathered by conference call on Friday and voted unanimously for three clubs to be promoted automatically and for play-offs to take place but with no relegation into the National League.

A points-per-game format was discussed, with any formal ending of the season requiring a similar agreement being reached by League One - whose talks broke up earlier on Friday without a definitive outcome.

Any decision would then require the ratification of the English Football League and the Football Association.

The EFL intend to settle divisions with promotion and relegation via an unweighted points per game model if seasons are curtailed - a method which would promote Leeds as champions of English football’s second tier along with second-placed West Brom.

Fulham, Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Preston North End would then battle it out for the final promotion place in the play-offs.

But after a two-month absence, football in Germany finally returned at the weekend and Ceferin hopes the example of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 is a sign of things to come.

“We trust Germans, their authorities are very serious… It’s not only about football,” Ceferin said.

“It’s about people being depressed because we are locked down, because there is so much uncertainty, and football brings life to a usual level.

“Football brings positive energy. It’s easier to be home if you can watch sports!”

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