Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas continues effort to restart Ligue 1

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has not given up in is efforts to persuade French authorities to overturn their decision to bring the football season to a premature end because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The men’s league was cancelled four weeks ago with 10 rounds remaining. Paris Saint-Germain were declared the champions, with Lyon finishing outside the European qualification places in seventh.

In a letter on Monday to French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu, Aulas argued the premature conclusion of the season will have catastrophic consequences for French clubs, which could face losses of "700 to 900" million euros (US$ 760 to $980 million).

Alongside Amiens and Toulouse - the two clubs relegated to the second tier - Lyon took action against the league's decision but their case was thrown out last week by a Paris administrative court.

Aulas now wants the highest administrative court in France, the Council of State, to issue a ruling on the matter.

Within European football, the Dutch and Belgian leagues have also decided to conclude their 2019-20 seasons early.

However, the German Bundesliga has already restarted and La Liga in Spain, the English Premier League and Italy's Serie A are all trying to get going again.