This archive report was first published on 23 May 2020.
On April 1, UEFA announced that the Champions League would be suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The suspension has left fans and teams in limbo, with many wondering when the competition will resume and what the future holds for the season.
Current Stage of the Champions League ¶
The Champions League is currently in the round of 16 stage, with half of the teams that will make up the quarterfinal round already decided.
Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, PSG, and Atalanta have all secured their passage to the next round, while the remaining ties have been postponed due to the pandemic.
Impact of the Suspension ¶
The suspension of the Champions League has had a significant impact on the footballing world, with international fixtures in June and the European Championships also being postponed.
UEFA's head, Aleksander Ceferin, has stated that the season 'could be lost' if play isn't resumed by the end of June, but has clarified that this is the worst possible scenario.
Possible Resumption Dates ¶
There are multiple rumors circulating about when the Champions League could resume, with some suggesting that the quarterfinals and semi-finals could be played in July and August.
Other reports suggest that these fixtures could be one-legged affairs, with the winners going through after playing at a neutral stadium.
One idea that has been mooted is that the semi-finals and final could be played in the same week in Istanbul, which would limit the travel that teams need to do.
UEFA is expected to make an official announcement regarding the latter stages of the competition as early as April 23.
Europa League Implications ¶
The Europa League is likely to face the same fate as the Champions League, with the same-city knockout format being spoken about.
If this format goes ahead, the Europa League final would be held three days before the Champions League final in Gdansk, with semi-finals played in the same city.
Cancelation of the Champions League ¶
There is a serious chance that this season's Champions League and Europa League competitions could both be cancelled altogether.
Should there be no clear date on when the competitions could safely resume, then UEFA's only possible decision would be to cancel both competitions.
