THE Premier League has extended the delay to the 2019-20 season until April 30 – but Liverpool have been handed a huge boost in their bid to win the title with the campaign extended indefinitely.
In a joint-statement involving all professional football bodies in England, it was announced there will be no action this month or next due to coronavirus.
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The season has been extended indefinitely but there will be no action until May at the earliest, says a recent statement
But the statement also revealed the season limit would be pushed beyond the usual June deadline due to the “unprecedented” circumstances.
That gives league-leaders Liverpool a huge boost in their bid to win their first-ever Premier League crown amid talk the season would be voided.
The news also gives the likes of Aston Villa a chance to try to escape the relegation zone.
The statement revealed:
- Football will not continue until safe to do so.
- FA Board extend limit to 2019-20 season.
- No football before April 30.
Thursday’s statement, in full, read: “The FA, Premier League, EFL and women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA, understand we are in unprecedented times and our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.
“We are united in our commitment to finding ways of resuming the 2019-20 football season and ensuring all domestic and European club league and cup matches are played as soon as it is safe and possible to do so.
“We have collectively supported Uefa in postponing Euro 2020 to create space in the calendar to ensure domestic and European club league and cup matches have an increased opportunity to be played and, in doing so, maintain the integrity of each competition.
“The FA’s Rules and Regulations state that ‘the season shall terminate not later than the 1 June’ and ‘each competition shall, within the limit laid down by The FA, determine the length of its own playing season’.
“However, The FA’s Board has agreed for this limit to be extended indefinitely for the 2019-20 season in relation to Professional Football.
“Additionally, we have collectively agreed that the professional game in England will be further postponed until no earlier than 30 April.
“The progress of COVID-19 remains unclear and we can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority.
“We will continue to follow Government advice and work collaboratively to keep the situation under review and explore all options available to find ways of resuming the season when the conditions allow.
“We would all like to re-emphasise that our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.”
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Liverpool currently sit 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League table with just nine games to play.
The Reds need a maximum of two wins from those matches to seal their first-ever PL crown.
There had been talk of the season being deemed null and void, but now it would appear Jurgen Klopp’s men will be given every chance to break their 30-year title drought.
The update also means it is increasingly less likely there will be a 22-team season, as discussed earlier this month.
All elite football in England had previously been suspended until April 4 at the earliest.
That news came with the football world in crisis as Uefa also announced ALL Champions League and Europa League matches scheduled were postponed.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for the deadly bug shortly afterwards.
Everton, West Ham and Bournemouth soon joined Chelsea, Arsenal, Leicester and Watford in putting their squads into self-isolation after the outbreak.
And with coronavirus spreading at an alarming rate, the Premier League met on Thursday to provide an update for both clubs and fans.
Meanwhile, maths could be used to determined the final Premier League standings, in order to keep things fair – rather than deem the season null and void.
Prem plan to play all 92 remaining games behind closed doors at neutral grounds on live TV amid coronavirus outbreak
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
