How do you explain this decision to suspend the Top 14 and the Pro D2?
Paul Goze: It is a decision that seems to me to have the seal of wisdom. From the moment the President of the Republic explained that the epidemic was accelerating and that general awareness and strong measures were needed to prevent the spread of this pandemic, it seemed logical to us to temporarily suspend our two professional championships. It seems to me to be good logic, good management.
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How do you envisage the rest of the season?
Today, we have just implemented this temporary suspension. We will think about different scenarios to see how the season can be ended, with sports equity and therefore matches that will be played according to the dates of recovery that the public authorities could give. We will also see the financial aspect by setting up support if the period of inactivity was too long, to allow clubs that would be in difficulty to pass this course. So we will try to put it all in place as quickly as possible, if the public authorities allow it and the crisis subsides a little in the coming weeks. This is what we will study in the coming days, to present it to the clubs within seven to eight days. Then discuss it with them.
“We are thinking about how to end the season. We are optimistic: we tell ourselves that the final stages are in three months ”
Do you have a recovery date in mind?
There is no recovery date. Depending on the date, there are things you can do or not do. There is a first date set for April 15, but it seems to me not very credible that all the measures were lifted at that time. We will wait to have details, which will surely come in the coming weeks. We will move forward in the pandemic so we can see how it evolves. We will then be able to see what are the conditions for resuming competition. The goal is to play the semi and finals on the scheduled dates.
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Can we imagine that the championships are purely and simply canceled?
All the assumptions are on the table to finish. It's all going to work, I don't have an answer today, it's too cool. We are thinking about how to end the season. We are optimistic: we tell ourselves that the final phases are in three months. By then, we can reasonably think that the pandemic will have decreased in intensity and that we will be able to have a certain number of dates allowing us an end of the sports season. Only the evolution of the pandemic will tell us if we will be able to put everything in place.
"In the scenarios that we will set up, we will obviously try to avoid an overload of matches in very short durations"
Whatever the scenario, the end of the season risks being loaded for the players ...
In the scenarios that we will set up, we will obviously try to avoid an overload of matches in very short durations. In our work, we take into account all the data. At the same time, the partners, the broadcaster, the presidents, the coaches, the players ... Given this extraordinary context, it is imperative that all stakeholders adhere to the scenario set up for the end of the season . We are not going to attack again after a month and a half, two months of coronavirus crisis by an internal crisis. Obligatorily, we will make sure that the scenario has the support of everyone.
What about the European Cups, the quarters of which are currently being maintained in early April?
We ask the EPCR to take a decision as soon as possible, that is to say within the next two or three days, on the suspension of the quarter-finals. It is up to the EPCR to make this decision, not us. We do not have the power to decide on the suspension of European competitions. The French clubs being at a standstill, without a championship ... It does not seem possible to me that we can make the quarters of European Cups but it is up to the EPCR to take the decision formally.
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