Ghana international striker Abdul Majeed Warris has lauded  the French government  for cancelling the 2019/ 2020 French Ligue 1 as a result of the increasing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Warris, who plies his trade with French 1 side Lorient, said considering the destructive nature of the pandemic and its devastating effect on society,   the decision  by the French government to cancel the French Ligue 1 was in the  right direction.

On March 13, 2020, the Professional Football League (LFP)  in France announced that all games in the two top tiers - Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 -  had been  suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing concerns over coronavirus.

On Wednesday, April 29, the  French Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe,  announced  plans to ease the COVID-19 lockdown in France  on Monday, May 11, 2020, but indicated that  both the French Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 had been cancelled.

“It is very disappointing, to be honest, that they cancelled the league because it had been decided that we would not continue the season, but if you look at the other aspects, I believe that it is an important thing that they did.

“This is  because if you look at what has happened abroad, people are losing their loved ones and families so it has destroyed everything. If you look at the safety side, I think it is the right thing,” he said in an interview.

The Tamale-born striker who  was adjudged the Swedish Player of the Year in 2012 during his time with Allsvenskan after scoring 12 goals in the league, including five goals in a single match against IFK Norrkoping, was a player of Right to Dreams Academy at the age of 12.

Warris, who  returned home when the French Ligue 1 was suspended following the outbreak of the  pandemic, left Ghana at a tender age  to play for  lower division side Forest Green Rovers in England  before joining  Swedish side Allsvenskan in 2009.