Premier League stars livid at idea of playing THREE games in five days to rush season’s end – likely behind closed doors

PREMIER LEAGUE stars are reportedly raging after being told they could play end up playing three matches in five days to complete the season.

Footie chiefs are determined to get the campaign wrapped up and completed by June 30 due to complications surrounding contracts.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

Premier League players are thought to be furious with the prospect of playing three times in five matchesCredit: AFP or licensors

At Chelsea, for example, Willian and Pedro are out of contract on that date but Hakim Ziyech’s deal begins on July 1.

And according to the Daily Mail, that could result in teams having to play with barely any break in between – with those possibly also behind closed doors.

The Premier League and EFL are currently suspended until the end of April due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The postponement will in all likelihood be extended, with debate raging on whether the season should be declared null and void, played to the end at the earliest opportunity, or ended in its current state.

A mathematical model which ranks the difficulty of each team’s remaining matches could be the fairest method.

The final decision will be made by the Premier League’s board – interim chair Claudia Arney, chief executive Richard Masters and director Kevin Beeston.

They will consult with all 20 clubs but the final decision will rest with the board.

But The FA caused fury earlier this week by announcing that all leagues below the National League have been scrapped.

In the Football League, most teams have nine or ten matches to play and therefore could be forced to squeeze all their remaining matches into a tight timeframe.

Players are training from home and many are understood to be reluctant to return to their clubs with the risk of catching Covid-19 still very real for them and their families.

Add into the mix the suggestion of three matches inside 120 hours and that raises further worries in terms of injuries with no chance to rest.

Such a frantic, hectic schedule would force managers into heavy rotation even for crunch matches.

A source at a Championship club told the Mail: “The scheduling is what it is, and everyone will be in the same boat. But it plays into the hands of those clubs who have deeper squads.”

Another option to try and cram the remainder of the campaign could be to extend the season beyond June.

With the Euros already put back by one year, that enables the Premier League to continue far deeper into the summer.

And according to Football London, the Premier League may not restart until July… and then could all be finished behind closed doors within four weeks.

The report adds that on a conference call between the Premier League, EFL, the FA and the government on Saturday, the plan was apparently reached to complete the season in July.

However, it is thought that is becoming increasingly unpopular.

Broadcasters Sky Sports and BT Sport may try and work out a deal to show at least one match per day for six weeks – including during the Saturday 3pm blackout period – through to the conclusion.

But with coronavirus not thought to have peaked in Britain yet, it is still very unclear when the season will be able to continue – even if matches are not opened up to fans.

The Premier League and EFL are determined to finish, though, with the broadcasters set to demand back £750million if fixtures fail to be completed.

And as revealed by SunSport, top-flight stars are facing a potential £100m-plus pay cut — to keep lower-league clubs alive.

Emergency talks between the PFA, Prem and EFL have been held to draft a survival strategy for football in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

With many lower division clubs teetering on the brink, it appears an across-the-board salary cut may now be inevitable.

No agreement has been made yet with Premier League sides and bigger Championship clubs, who are not in the same financial dire straits as some.

But the hope is a relief fund will filter down the leagues to those who need it.

Wages up to the end of this month are not thought to be at risk.

But while some clubs are reluctant to take the dramatic step at this stage, there is a growing recognition sacrifices will have to be made.

And a 20 per cent pay cut for all players to cover the next three months — with football unlikely to resume before July — is understood to have been mooted.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk