PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are hoping to restart the season as early as June 8.
During yesterday’s two-hour meeting, club bosses were run through scenarios of how a resumption might be completed.
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The Premier League could return as early as June 8Credit: AFP or licensors
The best-case scenario would see the first behind-closed-doors games take place on Monday, June 8, meaning training would resume in mid-May.
The government has warned football will not be given any special treatment and players and staff would still need to be tested before play resumes.
Stars could be forced to train under quarantine and there have even been talks of players turning up for sessions already in their kits to avoid changing rooms.
Mass testing will be made available for all players, staff and media at training grounds and stadiums as they desperately try to cram all remaining fixtures into just a six-week period.
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But clubs also face the prospect of playing as late as August – with the Big Six leading the charge AGAINST ending the season early on June 30.
Uefa want the Champions League final played on August 29 and would not expect domestic leagues to continue beyond that point.
While the FA Cup is also set to resume with rounds taking place in their original game-weeks within the Prem schedule.
A Prem spokesperson said: “It is our objective to complete the 2019-20 season but all dates are tentative while the impact of Covid-19 develops.”
Yesterday’s fiery Prem meeting saw an executive of one of the Big Six – Manchester United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham – call out the sides who proposed a June 30 finish date.
They were considering asking for a full debate on a forced closure amid concern over around 80 Prem players’ contracts expiring and causing “chaos”.
But instead the leading club chief tore into them on the video call to demand they stick with the League’s position of playing out the season and avoid a potential £1bn-plus blackhole.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
