Premier League and EFL suspended for three weeks after coronavirus crisis talks as Arteta and Chelsea star test positive

THE PREMIER LEAGUE have finally bowed to pressure and announced they are suspending the season for three weeks amid the coronavirus outbreak.

It comes with the football world in crisis as Uefa also announced ALL Champions League and Europa League matches scheduled for next week have been postponed.

The Premier League has been suspended amid the coronavirus outbreakCredit: Getty Images

⚠️ Read our Coronavirus in Sport live blog for the latest news, updates and cancellations

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi have tested positive for the deadly bug.

Today Everton, West Ham and Bournemouth joined Chelsea, Arsenal, Leicester and Watford in putting their squads into self-isolation.

Hammers manager David Moyes is among those in quarantine.

It comes with the UK gripped by the crisis with millions of Brits sent home from work with over 500 confirmed cases and 10 deaths.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned many people will lose loved ones in the coming months and told those with symptoms to self-isolate.

Prem chiefs have been under severe pressure to postpone or even cancel the season following similar measures across the globe.

They have announced that the Premier League, along with the EFL, FA Cup and Women’s Super League have all been postponed until April 3.

England’s upcoming international friendlies at Wembley with Italy and Denmark have also been axed.

In dramatic events in football:

In a statement, the Premier League said: “Premier League, FA, EFL and WSL have collectively agreed to postpone the professional game in England.

“Following a meeting of Shareholders today, it was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on 4 April, subject to medical advice and conditions at the time.

“Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: ‘Above all, we wish Mikel Arteta and Callum Hudson-Odoi speedy recoveries, and everyone else affected by COVID-19. In this unprecedented situation, we are working closely with our clubs, Government, The FA and EFL and can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority.’

“Despite the challenges, it is the Premier League’s aim to reschedule the displaced fixtures, including those played by Academy sides, when it is safe to do so.

“In this fast-moving environment, further updates will be provided when appropriate.”

An EFL statement added: “Clubs are being advised to suspend indefinitely all non-essential activities which include, but are not limited to, player appearances, training ground visits and fan meetings.”

PREM U-TURN

Yesterday the Premier League had vowed to continue business as usual until news broke moments after that statement Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had tested positive for the deadly virus.

Arsenal’s match with Brighton was then postponed with the entire squad in isolation and the training ground closed.

Chelsea then confirmed their England international Callum Hudson-Odoi had tested positive for the virus with Man City star Benjamin Mendy ordered to self-isolate after a relative came down with respiratory problems in another coronavirus scare.

That led to top-flight powerbrookers responding by calling an emergency club meeting this morning via video conference to assess the rapidly evolving situation and deciding to suspend all top-flight football.

During that meeting, Everton announced that their entire squad had gone into self-isolation after an unnamed player showed symptoms.

Bournemouth then placed Artur Boruc and four members of staff under isolation after displaying symptoms of coronavirus.

West Ham have announced some members of staff are self-isolating after coming into contact with Arteta last week.

It includes manager David Moyes who shook the hand of the Arsenal manager.

SunSport understands that before the Premier League made its decision, two clubs – understood to include a few currently fighting relegation – asked for the league to be cancelled.

But that remains firmly off the agenda at this stage.

WHAT NOW FOR PREM?

In any event, the league rulebook means the clubs have no say in the way the competition is run or its schedule.

It is a decision entirely under control of the board, interim chair Claudia Arney, chief executive Richard Masters and Kevin Beeston.

With Uefa poised to confirm it will postpone Euro 2020 for 12 months and allow domestic leagues to stretch into the middle of summer, the Prem will seek to take advantage of the extended window and – if possible – restart and play out the remaining games.

For now the focus is on combating the virus, with clubs going into isolation.

Premier League press conferences were axed on Friday with Frank Lampard and Jurgen Klopp not addressing the media.

EURO GAMES OFF

All Champions League games and Europa League matches have been suspended, Uefa announced on Friday morning.

They include Man City’s match with Real Madrid and Chelsea’s game at Bayern Munich.

Manchester United’s return leg with LASK is also hit.

EUROPE IN LOCKDOWN

All sporting events in Italy have been cancelled until at least April 3 – including Juventus’ Champions League second leg against Lyon which was due to take place next Tuesday.

LaLiga has been suspended after Real Madrid’s squad were put in quarantine over coronavirus fears.

The Spanish side’s training ground was put on lockdown after a basketball player tested positive for the deadly bug.

The Barcelona squad are also in quarantine.

The Spanish top-flight and second division have now been suspended in a desperate bid to stop coronavirus spreading.

LaLiga had told all 20 clubs in its premier division that matches will be played behind closed doors for the next two weeks.

But Spanish authorities made the decision to cancel the games after it was revealed that Real Madrid’s squad had to be quarantined.

The Bundesliga has also been scrapped due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak after the first footballer in Germany was diagnosed with the virus.

German second division side Hannover confirmed on Wednesday that defender Timo Hubers, 23, is in quarantine at home after testing positive for the deadly bug.

The Scottish Premier League has also been axed, with this weekend’s games and next week’s midweek matches definitely off.

The coronavirus outbreak has also ground American sport to a halt, with the NBA and NHL both suspending their seasons, with the MLS announcing they are suspending games for 30 days.

EURO 2020 MEETING

Uefa are meeting on Tuesday to discuss Euro 2020 and how to go forward with the Champions League and Europa League.

It’s thought moving this summer’s international tournament back a year could be the best option, as it would allow domestic and European competitions to be completed over the summer.

With the 2022 World Cup being played in the winter, switching the tournament to the summer of 2021 is more viable.

The country is stepping up its response to the global pandemic with many companies banning staff from their offices or doing “trial runs” of working from home for if and when there is a full shutdown.

Those measures could come in to force in the UK early next week on what is being dubbed “Flu Monday.”

Meanwhile, panic buying yesterday hit online grocers — as shoppers again cleared supermarket shelves.

Yesterday, Ireland announced anti-coronavirus shutdown measures and Scotland banned gatherings of more than 500 people.

Mr Johnson has said the government believes 10,000 Brits may already be infected and the peak of the outbreak is still weeks away.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk