The ban on professional football and rugby in France has been extended until the end of August, which has effectively ended the Ligue 1 and Top 14 seasons. 

Both football and rugby have been shut down in France since March 13 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The French National League (LNR) had already cancelled the Top 14 semi-finals and final set for Nice in June and July.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has confirmed that "The 2019-2020 professional sport season, including the football season, will also not be able to resume."

He's announced a partial lifting of restrictions from May 11, however sport cannot resume even behind closed doors.

Ligue 1 becomes the latest European league to have been brought to a premature close due to the pandemic.

In the Netherlands, the KNVB ended the Eredivisie season without a champion being crowned and promotion and relegation halted for a season. That's resulted in rancour and threats of legal action from clubs in the top two divisions.

In Belgium, a vote on the ending of their Pro League season has been postponed until next week.

It's unclear what approach Ligue 1 officials will take towards ending their season.

When play was suspended, Paris Saint-Germain led Marseille by 12-points with eleven games to play.

Marseille and Rennes occupy the other Champions League places, with Lille holding an 8-point advantage over Reims in the race for Europa League football.

At the other end of the table, Toulouse appear destined for Ligue 2 as they are 14-points from safety with ten games remaining, while Amiens occupy the other automatic spot and Nimes in the playoff.

In Ligue 2, Lens and Lorient occupy the automatic promotion places.

In the Top 14 Bordeaux-Begles had a healthy lead over Lyon with nine rounds of games remaining of the regular season.

Meanwhile, France's summer tour of Argentina looks to be off.

Les Bleues were due to play two tests against the Pumas in Cordoba and Santa Fe in July.

However, the Argentine government has extended its ban on international flights until September 1.