THE ongoing coronavirus pandemic is shifting Premier League clubs’ opinion towards cancelling the season, according to reports.
Football has officially been abandoned until April 30 with the 2019/20 campaign given an indefinite window to be completed.
Clubs are said to be increasingly less concerned with Liverpool’s title claims
There are concerns over the sizeable fee broadcasters will demand if the contractually obligated number of games shown on TV is not met, as well as the integrity of the competition were existing results expunged.
However The Athletic report this morning that a growing number of sides are worried about rushing back to the pitch.
From over 11,500 confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK, 578 have died with numbers continuing to rise.
There is said to be a fear among some top-flight clubs that worrying about football in such a climate would be seen as crass and insulting.
Although there was unanimity in last week’s official commitment to finishing the season, reservations are being reported behind the scenes.
The concept of seeing out matches behind closed doors still requires emergency service workers to attend and potential player injuries might fill much-needed hospital space – no doubt prompting outrage among the general public.
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In addition, players who have left the UK during the pandemic may struggle to return in time if travel restrictions and lockdowns remain in place elsewhere.
Any decision made by the Premier League would require 14 of the 20 teams to agree on an outcome.
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady is one of the only key figures to raise her concerns over seeing out the campaign – prompting outrage from many fans – and Brighton’s Paul Barber reportedly sounded his caution at the league’s last meeting.
Liverpool’s title push will also be one factor to consider in how a cancellation would be received but latest reports detail how club bosses do not consider this the priority.
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Even though the Reds are 25 points clear and on the verge of a first crown in 30 years, The Athletic quotes one top-flight chairman as saying: “In the grand scheme of things, honestly, it really doesn’t matter.”
Another director stated there are “such bigger issues to deal” as football attempts a find a way through the pandemic mire.
So far, only non-league clubs have applied to the FA to cancel their season early with promotion and relegation cancelled at lower levels of the National League ladder.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
