It has been over a month since the outbreak of the Coronavirus has triggered the suspension of football matches across the globe as all league matches have been suspended along with the UEFA Champions League and the EUROPA League matches.
The pandemic has also influenced the postponement of the UEFA EURO2020, Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Copa America among other competitions scheduled for this summer, being moved to next year.
Also competitions slated for next summer have also been affected as the UEFA Under-21 championship, Women’s EURO 2021 and the 2021 Nations League finals are the moved to the year after.
In leu of this, Oltsport takes a look at the biggest losers of the decisions arrived by football world in respect to the Coronavirus outbreak.
CONFEDERATION OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL
The federation arrived at the decision to reschedule the AFCON from June to July next summer to January and February 2021, the outbreak might now force them to move the competition for the second time within a year.
BELGIUM
With the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Thibault Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, Thorgan Hazard and more being fantastic all season, the Belgian Red Devils would have been heading into the European competition on a high but as the competition has been moved to next summer, some other countries will get better, competitions will arise and some players might not be in the form they are now.
REAL MADRID
Los Blancos leads the La Liga Santander standings heading into the last fixtures before the suspension of matches but lost the match, 2 goals to 1 at Betis and subsequently losing their position at the top to FC Barcelona. If the league will not be concluded, Barcelona now stand the better chance of being crowned champions at the expense of Los Merengues.
LIVERPOOL
After decades, waiting for another taste of the premier league glory, Liverpool were on track, crushing all on their path and the stage looks set for them to be crowned the champions of English League this season. However, the pandemic has now cast doubts on their winning it as it is being suggested, that the league be declared void. Since the league has not resumed, it remains to be seen whether the club will get their hands on their deserved prize that has eluded them for almost 30 years, this year.
CHELSEA
Since lossing against Bayern Munich in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg at the Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have returned to form, playing good football and even secured big wins against Liverpool and Everton, and had matches not been suspended, they will have play Bayern Munich who will be without striker Robert Lewandowski, in a good form. One might argue that the contest is as good as over in the first leg but The Blues are capable of an upset, especially as Bayern will be missing a threatening target man upfront which will relief Chelsea of defensive duties and give them more freedom to attack.
However, the suspension has hampered this chance as Lewandowski is expected to be back when the two sides do battle at the Aliaz Arena.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
One might question why the Portuguese talisman will be on such a list, however, Cristiano will be 36 at the competition next summer and his abilities will not be as it is now. Ronaldo’s form this season has been impeccable and taking that into the European competition would have been a great boost for the Seleção das Quinas but next summer, he might not be as influential.
CIRO IMMOBILE
The Italian has been in a red-hot form this season and currently has 27 goals to his name in the league all season. He leads Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski with 2 goals in the race for the European Golden Shoe. Hence, with Lewandowski expected to miss at least 3 more weeks due to injury before the suspension of matches, it would have present Immobile the chance to move further ahead of his Pole counterpart but the suspension now put at risk his chance of winning the prize this season as Lewandowski is expected to return to action, when matches resume.
BILLY GILMOUR
With the likes of Ngolo Kanté and Matteo Kovacic out injured, the Scottish teenager has made the best of the opportunity presented to him to impress for the blues with top class performances against Liverpool and Everton. Howbeit, the suspension denied him the opportunity to impress more as Kanté and Kovacic should be back, when matches resume.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
