"The Coupe de France is not dead in itself, but obviously for the end of 2020, it is at a standstill, like many sports in France," said Roxana Maracineanu, Thursday, to
RMC Sport
during the presentation of the measures concerning the “National Strategy for Sport and Handicaps”.
What qualifies the remarks made Wednesday morning by the Prime Minister on
BFM TV.
Jean Castex had announced that the 104th edition of the Coupe de France was "dead".
The national competition organized by the French Football Federation (FFF) could finally take place at the beginning of 2021. In any case, this is the will of the Minister Delegate in charge of Sports: “Sport must gradually resume.
The protocol must be adapted and today it does not allow the practice of football as we know it for sportsmen and amateur clubs.
This is why the Prime Minister announced that, by the end of the year, there will be no Coupe de France.
When things resume in January, we will resume gradually.
We will work hand in hand with the FFF.
If we have to adapt the format of the competition, we will.
It all depends on when we can resume. "
A hypothesis that goes in the direction of the president of the FFF.
“But it's not done for the Coupe de France!
Either way, right now it is changing every day.
What we are announcing this morning has nothing to do with what was mentioned two days earlier.
It changes every day… There are possible solutions.
For me, the Coupe de France will take place.
Obviously, the longer we wait, the more complicated it becomes.
But not impossible, "assured Noël Le Graët to Le
Parisien
on Wednesday
.
The dreaded scenario of the outright cancellation of the National Cup is therefore dismissed by the Minister of Sports.
However, the format of the competition may be adapted.
The FFF must find dates to set the 6th, 7th and 8th rounds as well as the 32nd finals which should have been held on January 2 and 3.
The late 5th round matches could be played from the first weekend of January.
A possibility which will depend on the resumption of amateur clubs.
Note that amateur clubs rely heavily on Cup proceeds to survive financially.
Spectators present in the stadiums around December 15?
Regarding the return of spectators to the stadiums, Roxana Maracineanu explained that she is in discussion with sports players to establish a health protocol applicable from December 15 in sports arenas: “The door is open to be able to have a positive arbitration in order to have the public in the stadiums.
With distances which are those of 8 m² around each spectator.
We start rather in a logic of authorizing a percentage according to the size of the stadium.
You have to go gradually.
Indeed, we are working to make it possible from December 15 in the outdoor stadiums. "
An adapted gauge, which will evolve with the health situation of the country, would therefore be under study.
This would involve determining a maximum occupancy percentage based on the stadium's capacity.
In England, 2000 supporters (maximum level for the moment) were able to attend Thursday evening the Europa League meeting between Arsenal and Rapid Vienna (4-1).
A first since the resumption of football in England.
France should therefore soon follow the path after starting the season with 5,000 spectators.
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Castex buries the 2020-21 edition of the Coupe de France, Le Graët still believes in it
