PREMIER LEAGUE rebels were silenced as the split between clubs over ending the season early was laid bare.
Yesterday’s meeting of the 20 teams saw one Big Six executive call out the sides who proposed a June 30 finish date.
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Manchester United are leading the Big Six’s power play over the Prem seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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.
In an outburst that signalled the anger of the Big Six — Manchester United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham — the exec told them: “Our aim is to finish this season and protect the start of next season.
“Everybody should get on board and those who don’t, or who are suggesting other things, are being totally disingenuous and unbelievable.”
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The attack opened the door for a response but instead the June 30 issue was not raised at all as the vast majority of clubs on the conference call signalled their backing for the Prem’s position.
But the rebels still intend to come back to the issue at the next meeting on May 1.
They feel the reality of life under extended lockdown will give licence for them to demand a debate on when the season ends.
The growing divide comes despite chief executive Richard Masters’ unopposed backing for his stance that the League remains determined to play out the remaining 92 games of this campaign.
During yesterday’s two-hour meeting, club bosses were run through scenarios of how a resumption might be completed.
The best-case scenario would see the first games take place on Monday, June 8, meaning training would resume in mid-May.
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.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
