The global outbreak of COVID-19 has brought everyday life to a standstill. The 21st-century generation believes in a hustling, busy life, caught in a loop of work and enjoyment. But as a pandemic hit the whole world, regular hustle-bustle came to rest. New norms for social gatherings made going out to clubs, stadiums, and theatres, a far-fetched dream.
As the confirmed Coronavirus cases in the world have crossed 7.7 million, all the significant gaming events have either been postponed or canceled. However, when it comes to survival, based on the previous records of fans gathering at the stadium, soccer is sure to sustain itself. An average of 80% of fans turned up for the Sheffield United matches and about 99.5% for Manchester United in the 2018-19 season. This huge fan base must be eager to get back to their seats, cheer for their favorite team, and feel the adrenaline rush for every victory. But will it be so much now that the stadiums have been muted? Check out the effect audiences can have on the stadium with Betway’s Infographic.
Credit: Betway
Here is a detailed scenario of the football industry, as of 14 June 2020:
South Korea
In an empty World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, champions Jeonbuk Motors hosted the Suwon Bluewings on May 8.
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Germany
After a break of two months, football games of top league Bundesliga resumed behind closed doors on May 16.
English Premier League
The Spanish La Liga and Italian Serie A have resumed after a three-month hiatus in June.
Euro 2020 Tournament
The football governing body of Europe, UEFA has postponed this tournament until 2031. This 24-team tournament across 12 nations is scheduled for June 11 to July 11, 2021.
Euro 2020 Women's Championship
UEFA has postponed this tournament till July 2021, scheduled for July 6 to July 31, 2021.
Women's Football league stands canceled.
Europa League match was played in Milan, Italy, in an empty stadium between Inter Milan and Ludogorets.
CONCACAF Nations League
The CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Nations League Finals have been suspended. The venues will also be rescheduled for the games supposed to happen from June 4 to 7.
Copa America and Major League Soccer
Both the football leagues have been postponed until further notice.
Africa
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed the semi-finals of the African Champions League.
The African Nations Championship 2020 has been postponed indefinitely.
CAF has also postponed the qualifier rounds of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which were earlier scheduled for March 25 to 31.
Asia
The Asian World Cup qualifying matches, supposed to happen in March and June, stand postponed by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.
The Chinese and Japanese Professional Leagues have also been postponed.
Asian Champions League has postponed all matches with Chinese clubs Shanghai SIPG, Guangzhou Evergrande, and Shanghai Shenhua.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire says, "I think football might have to re-invent its relationship with fans in terms of its ability to offer an experience. The return to some form of live-action is essential." He believes in the power of the crowd and is confident that the games have existed for centuries, because of the passion of the people. It will continue living on, maybe this time with modifications.
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