This time of year is usually the most exciting for football supporters as European club seasons approach their climax, with league titles up for grabs and promotion and relegation battles to be fought out.

Instead, stadiums lie empty and players and fans alike are confined to their homes amid coronavirus lockdowns, leaving end-of-campaign tussles in suspense.

Football authorities have been considering ways to revive and save their seasons. But countries have taken different approaches: the French and Dutch leagues have been cancelled on government orders, while only Germany has eyes on a quick return to action.

Europe's governing body UEFA acknowledges that circumstances mean seasons may not be finished. But it needs clarity regarding qualification for next season's European competitions.

Here is a look at how things stand in the main European leagues and when football may resume.
The English Premier League is still hoping to restart its season amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 20 clubs discussed the latest planning under “Project Restart” on a conference call on May 1.

Planning has been stepped up to try to resume matches in neutral stadiums, with the EPL holding separate talks with the government and its clubs to determine the necessary health measures and logistics.

Club executives were informed by the league that safety certificates were likely to be granted for only eight to 10 stadiums and no team would be able to play at home to prevent fans congregating outside. “Project Restart” has June 8 as the potential earliest date for games.

The league says the “clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019-20 season”, which has 92 fixtures to complete.

Relegation-threatened Brighton became the first club to oppose publicly the idea to play matches at neutral grounds.

Individually, teams have either nine or 10 matches left to play. Liverpool -- aiming for the club's first league title for 30 years -- are top of the table with a commanding 25-point lead over Manchester City.

Lower-league professional clubs in England are also determined to finish the season, but have been told they might not be allowed to have fans at their matches until 2021.
Football in Spain has been suspended since mid-March and it is unclear when the season can resume. Spanish authorities are wary about players gathering on pitches too soon.

The Spanish league wants daily testing of squads and coaches, a plan that the players’ association has objected to as long as tests are scarce among the general public. The government is allowing players to resume training from early May, although the sports minister has cautioned games might not be allowed before the summer.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has said it plans to award next season's European places according to teams' current league positions, if La Liga cannot be completed.

That means current league leaders Barcelona would qualify for the Champions League, with the teams now in 2nd, 3rd and 4th places: Real Madrid, Sevilla and Real Sociedad. The next placed teams, including Atletico Madrid, would qualify for the Europa League.
Germany's Bundesliga football league can resume behind closed doors from mid-May, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on May 6.

"The Bundesliga can resume from the second half of May in compliance with the rules that have been introduced," Merkel said after a meeting with the regional authorities on the easing of the country's lockdown.

"Today's decision is good news for the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga," Christian Seifert, the managing director of the Bundesliga, said in a statement.

Seifert highlighted "the great responsibility for the clubs and their employees to implement the medical and organisational requirements in a disciplined manner".

"Games without stadium spectators are not an ideal solution for anyone," Seifert said. "In a crisis threatening the very existence of some clubs, however, it is the only way to keep the leagues in their current form."

All leagues have been at a standstill since mid-March. Clubs resumed training with players in small groups in April.

On May 2, three people at Bundesliga club FC Cologne tested positive for the coronavirus.

A ban on all large gatherings in Germany until at least the end of August will remain. So even if next season begins on schedule, it seems the first games will be played without fans present.
Germany's Bundesliga football league can resume behind closed doors from mid-May, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on May 6.

"The Bundesliga can resume from the second half of May in compliance with the rules that have been introduced," Merkel said after a meeting with the regional authorities on the easing of the country's lockdown.

"Today's decision is good news for the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga," Christian Seifert, the managing director of the Bundesliga, said in a statement.

Seifert highlighted "the great responsibility for the clubs and their employees to implement the medical and organisational requirements in a disciplined manner".

"Games without stadium spectators are not an ideal solution for anyone," Seifert said. "In a crisis threatening the very existence of some clubs, however, it is the only way to keep the leagues in their current form."

All leagues have been at a standstill since mid-March. Clubs resumed training with players in small groups in April.

On May 2, three people at Bundesliga club FC Cologne tested positive for the coronavirus.

A ban on all large gatherings in Germany until at least the end of August will remain. So even if next season begins on schedule, it seems the first games will be played without fans present.
The Italian government has started to express unease about Serie A resuming in the country that was the first in Europe to feel the full force of the pandemic.

A meeting of the Italian Football Association (FIGC) on May 8 could be decisive. The league is opposed to the season being cancelled, uniting the 20 clubs in a videoconference call on May 1 to call for constructive dialogue with the government.

Players in Italy had been told they might be able to resume training from early May, but this has now been banned until May 18 at the earliest. Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora has said the path ahead is becoming "more and more narrow".

FIGC president Gabriele Gravina has said that ending the league early would spell "the death of Italian football".

Serie A was suspended indefinitely in March after some matches took place behind closed doors. With 12 fixtures left to play, Juventus are the current league leaders, one point ahead of Lazio.
France's top-flight Ligue 1 has been ordered by the government to cancel its 2019-20 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. But many clubs have said they may appeal against the decision.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced on April 28 that major sports fixtures -- including those behind closed doors -- would not be permitted in the country before September.

The French League (LFP) announced that the final standings would be based on a points-per game ratio. It means that Paris Saint-Germain have been declared Ligue 1 champions for the third consecutive year.

Lorient have been crowned Ligue 2 champions and will be promoted to the top division with second-place Lens.

Amiens and Toulouse have been relegated to Ligue 2. Both clubs, as well as Olympique Lyonnais, say they will reserve the right to appeal the decision. Lyon, in fifth place a week before the last match day, will finish seventh, and out of European competition for the first time since 1996-97.

Lyon were still competing in the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League when play was halted on April 1.

The French Football Federation (FFF) had already decided to put an end to all lower league, amateur and youth football in France.

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