PREMIER LEAGUE clubs could refuse to resume the season as planned due to concerns over their players’ health and the integrity of the competition, according to reports.
The FA, Premier League, EFL and WSL announced on Friday that all professional football in England was suspended until at least April 3 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
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The remainder of the Premier League is in serious doubt with concerns from a number of club executives over the integrity of the competition and their players’ safetyCredit: Getty – Contributor
The next scheduled fixture in the top flight is now Aston Villa’s home clash against Wolves – the lunchtime kick-off on April 4.
As revealed by SunSport, league chiefs are under increasing pressure to CANCEL the entire season.
And according to the Daily Mail, it is becoming unlikely that games will go ahead in three weeks’ time.
The report states that executives at a number of Premier League clubs have a number of different issues that could stop games going ahead, even if public events are not banned by the government.
The list includes the risk to more players contracting the virus.
Callum Hudson-Odoi became the first Premier League player to be tested positive for Covid-19.
But his Chelsea side as well as Arsenal, Leicester, Bournemouth, Manchester City, West Ham, Brighton and Everton have all been affected in some way, with a number of players showing symptoms and others in self-isolation as a precautionary measure.
The integrity of the competition comes into question if the clubs don’t all resume the season at the same time – although this could prove impossible if there are further cases at clubs which puts individuals in quarantine.
The fact that 69 top-flight players are out of contract in the summer – specifically on June 30 – that could also play havoc if the season is extended into July.
Naturally, the teams in the hunt for Champions League football and battling to avoid relegation will be desperate to give themselves the best chance of ending the season on a high.
So they are set to refuse any plans that they think gives their rivals an advantage if and when the season does get back underway.
Premier League chiefs under pressure to CANCEL entire season after coronavirus suspension
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
