Placing both the Champions League and Europa League on hold while domestic seasons are played out is one of the proposals being looked at by UEFA, Sportsmail understands.

A European plan is being formed to resume football around July and August, with domestic leagues told Thursday not to abandon competitions yet due to the coronavirus pandemic.

EXCLUSIVE: The threat comes as the SPFL consider a plan to crown Celtic champions and call final positions based on league standings in order to make relief payments to clubs deprived of revenue.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says playing behind closed doors is a better option than scrapping the season, but warned European competitions could be abandoned.

Belgium is at the forefront of a growing number of nations in favour of ending the 2019-20 season straight away and they intend to lobby UEFA at a showdown meeting next Thursday.

If domestic leagues are not back until July or August then UEFA is considering playing the remainder of the two competitions in a condensed timeframe.

Leagues unable to finish will be advised to stage play-off games to determine key positions in the table, which would directly affect sides in the Champions League race.

Even if Newcastle's takeover happens, spending restrictions in place at domestic level in the Premier League and at UEFA level will make it difficult for the club to spend high amounts.

Marco Verratti insists that his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates are not interested in financial gain and expressed his dream of winning the Champions League.

Anderson Cooper was seen out in New York City for the first time this week after welcoming his firstborn son Wyatt into the world.

EXCLUSIVE: Sportsmail understands that candidates to replace Michael O'Neill believe they would have to wait until after Euro 2020 finals to take over should the team make it through.

O'Neill was installed as Stoke City boss last week but it was confirmed that he will take charge of the final Group C qualifiers against Holland and Germany, as well as a potential play-off.

A goalless draw with Holland in Belfast on Saturday ended Northern Ireland's hopes of automatic qualification from Group C, even before their final qualifier against Germany tomorrow.

He was forced off at half-time after an awkward landing having tripped over Hull's Daniel Batty and will miss the rest of the season before sitting out this summer's tournament in addition.

The youngster returned to training in September following his brave battle against the disease and featured for the club's U23 side the following month in a 4-1 win over Swansea.

Midfielder Ki Sung-yueng has left Newcastle after his contract was torn up by mutual consent, the Magpies have confirmed. The 31-year-old has made just four appearances for the club this season.

Donald Butler's daughter Nicolle, 27, had recently passed away, with family staying nearby in Tampa, Florida, for the funeral when his truck disappeared with his daughter's urn inside.

Kim Kardashian promoted her new makeup with a glamour pic on Tuesday.

Instead of sporting her signature long, raven tresses, the 38-year-old reality superstar and makeup mogul had her hair styled into a short chocolate brown coif with caramel-colored highlights.

The 'activist', 33, inspired the Love Island host, 39, to hit back, which saw Caroline insist those at the heart of the series 'are people not contestants' as she branded it 'a discussion show'

Portugal may have been without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo but it was not less of a shock as they slumped to an embarrassing 1-0 defeat at home to Albania in their Euro 2016 qualifier. 

Serbia and Albania can expect severe punishments after UEFA launched an investigation into a night of violence in Belgrade, described as ‘inexcusable’ by Michel Platini.

Antoine Griezmann came off the bench to salvage a draw for Euro 2016 hosts France with a late equaliser in Friday's friendly against Albania in Rennes.

An impressive display from minnows Albania earned their first ever victory against France. The Euro 2016 hosts fell to the shock defeat courtesy of a sublime free-kick from youngster Ergys Kace.

A court ruling for appeals filed by the Serbian and Albanian football federation against UEFA sanctions after their European Championship qualifier was abandoned is expected by July 10.

Albania have been awarded a victory over Serbia by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after a Euro 2016 qualifier was abandoned when a drone with a political banner flew into the stadium.

The Portugal squad flew to Albania on Saturday ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifier and Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma made sure they got the best seats... in the cockpit.

Germany, Poland, Romania and Albania successfully reached Euro 2016 as the final round of qualifying matches continued on Sunday. Constantin Budescu struck twice for Romania.

JOE BERNSTEIN: There is no more unlikely qualifier for Euro 2016 than Albania whose footballers have shown there is more to the former Iron Curtain secret state than a fixation for Norman Wisdom.

The two sides have been paired together in Group A, and while Albania could field six Swiss-born players, Switzerland have more than half-a-dozen potential starters eligible for their opponents.

Some of them have been there, a few of them have done it - but do the managers who are guiding 24 national sides at Euro 2016 really know what their players are going through?

Albania leveled quickly after conceding an early goal, but gave away another goal at the start of the new half, and Ukraine, also going to Euro 2016, sealed the win with two minutes to go.

The wait is nearly over as the 24 teams who will take to the field at Euro 2016 are put the finishing touches on their preparations.

Figures – collated by the Association of Accounting Technicians using player values according to transfermarkt.com – value the German squad at £421.4million with England at £334.5m.

The biggest-ever Euros kick off this week with 24 teams, 51 matches and a month of top-class action throughout France. To keep track of events, grab yourself a copy of our superb wallchart.

JACK GAUGHAN: They are the minnows of Euro 2016. You would be hard pressed to find a supporter outside of the area au fait with their history. Albania do not conjure memories of football.

They are the stars that will light up Euro 2016, and they have been immortalised in glossy posters ahead of the start of the biggest tournament in this year's sporting calendar.

Size isn’t everything but the European Championship growing to 24 teams is only going to be good news for the big boys. Find out who we're backing, including a 14/1 shot and a 130/1 acca.

Having trouble eulogising over Alban Hoxha or Haukur Heidar Hauksson? Don't worry as Sportsmail are on hand to help.

France is hosting the European Championship this summer where stars such as Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be hoping to get their hands on the coveted trophy.

Sportsmail's Martin Keown brings you his guide to all six groups. The former England defender's breaks down each team including star men, ones to watch and his take on their tournament prospects.

The hosts' group is relatively straightforward and should not pose too many problems to Didier Deschamps. Switzerland are a talented side but Albania and Romania are certainly minnows.

JOE BERNSTEIN: The parents of Euro 2016 footballers Granit and Taulant Xhaka will find themselves having to support both teams as Albania meet Switzerland in Lens.

Granit and Taulant Xhaka line up on opposing sides as Euro 2016's Group A action continues in Lens. Follow all the action from Stade Bollaert-Delelis with MATT MALTBY.

Neither side are particularly fancied as winners ahead of their first game, but with talent throughout the Switzerland side, it would be foolish to write them off before they have even kicked a ball.

Switzerland have to communicate better on the field and must be more composed in possession if they want to qualify for the knockout stages of Euro 2016, goalkeeper Yann Sommer said.

France will be looking to dampen down the voices of criticism that piped up after their less than convincing opening game win over Romania last week as they face Albania in Marseilles.

France made it two Euro 2016 wins from two against Albania in Marseille on Wednesday night in Group A after late strikes from Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet.

Antoine Griezmann has claimed that his late goal for France against Albania enacted some 'revenge' for his disappointing showing in the Euro 2016 opener against Romania.

Ahead of kick-off, Sportsmail 's MARTIN KEOWN offers his assessment of three of the big games from this weekend's Euro 2016 fixtures including the hosts' final group game.