The evolution of the health crisis does not encourage optimism at the beginning of the year 2021 after the announcements this Thursday by Prime Minister Jean Castex.
However, time is running out to announce the resumption of amateur competitions and the Coupe de France.
For the latter, the government is not closed to the idea that the health protocol put in place for the pros is also for the amateurs.
Several questions arise before the launch of this second part of the season.
How many amateur clubs are still competing in the Coupe de France?
A race against time.
To stay on track and complete the 104th edition of the Coupe de France, the FFF changed its formula during the competition on December 17 with 2 tables, one for amateur clubs and the other for the pros.
Amateur and professional clubs must meet during the round of 16 scheduled for the beginning of March.
If this is not the case, then it will be almost impossible to catch up because all the dates (L1, European Cup) are taken by the end of the season at the end of May with a Euro 2020 which starts on June 11 (until July 11).
After the three late matches of the 5th round (including Le Mée-Red Star in Ile-de-France), 248 amateur clubs and 3 overseas representatives (Martinique, the winner of the Guyana-Guadeloupe duel and the winner of the Reunion- confrontation Mayotte) will still be in the list of amateurs.
Four rounds (the 6th, 7th and 8th round plus the 32nd round), which must absolutely take place in February, will then be necessary to designate the 17 amateur clubs which will challenge the 15 professional teams in the round of 16.
Not easy even if the Coupe de France takes priority over the amateur championships.
The same health protocol for amateurs as for pros?
The FFF had validated during a Comex at the start of the season the principle of a PCR test (to detect Covid-19) 48 hours before the matches and results known the next day for all the players during the Coupe de France matches. opposing an amateur club to a pro club.
Could the health protocol apply to all amateur clubs during the 6th, 7th, 8th round and 32nd finals?
“For the moment nothing has been stopped because it is not easy to set up, we are told on the side of the federation.
Discussions are underway between the FFF, the Leagues and the government.
We are awaiting the evolution of the pandemic and future announcements from the government.
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If the amateur clubs cannot resume competition at the beginning of February at the latest, the FFF will have to abolish this 104th edition or possibly continue it with only the professional clubs.
This option is not currently being considered by the federation, especially since it would be unpopular (and therefore risky) a little more than 2 months before the election of its president (on March 13).
Completing this 2021 edition could also make it possible to collect 40 million euros in revenue, part of which is donated to amateur clubs ... A decision will be taken at a Comex scheduled for the end of January.
Will the championships go to the end?
There again, a race against the clock is launched to complete the championships stopped since October when a quarter, even sometimes less, of the matches have been played this season.
To save time, the FFF validated before the end-of-year celebrations two options in the Leagues (from R 1 to R 3) and Districts (from D 1 to D 5) championships.
The first is to continue the championships in their original format.
If these cannot be completed, it will be necessary to have recourse once again to the quotient classification.
The second option is to adopt a system of playoffs and playdowns after the end of the first leg.
Clubs will have the opportunity to play until June 30.
If this formula is discontinued, the quotient classification would also be adopted.
Each Regional League can choose its option.
After his re-election Tuesday evening at the head of the League of Paris-Ile-de-France, Jamel Sandjak announced that a steering committee would be held quickly in order to rule but the most likely option is that of the playoffs and playdowns.
Finally, the FFF will rule on National 2 and National 3 (4th and 5th divisions) at its next Comex.