Leagues across Europe have been formally asked not to abandon their seasons as a result of the COVID-19 shutdown. 

Belgian Pro League chiefs will ask a general assembly this month to end their season prematurely, with current leaders Club Bruges declared champions. 

But a joint letter from UEFA, the European Club Association and the European Leagues body say they’re formulating a plan to see seasons completed. 

They want to see the leagues finished in July and August, followed by the Champions League and Europa League. 

In the letter seen by the Associated Press, UEFA, the ECA and EL write, "We are confident that football can restart in the months to come — with conditions that will be dictated by public authorities and believe that any decision of abandoning domestic competitions is, at this stage, premature and not justified.”

Should the General Assembly in Belgium pass Thursday's motion, they would become the first major European league to cancel the rest of the season.

Their board claim football is unlikely to resume before June 30 and that playing behind closed doors would add an unnecessary strain on health and police services.

Two UEFA working groups have been assessing how best to end the season, and the contractual ramifications of doing so beyond June 30.

One of the working groups is tasked purely with the competitions aspect, and the letter continues, "Their work is now focusing on scenarios encompassing the months of July and August, including the possibility that the UEFA competitions restart after the completion of domestic leagues.

"A joint management of calendars is strictly required as the conclusion of the current season must be coordinated with the start of the new one, which may be partly impacted because of the overstretch.

"Closely following the development of the current situation, the calendar working group will indicate as soon as possible, and ideally by mid-May, which of the plans can be enacted for the completion of the season without leaving anyone behind."