PREMIER League chiefs are today poised to suspend the season as a result of the coronavirus – with an announcement expected at 11am.
But footie chiefs remain determined to resume as soon as possible – it’s hoped by the middle of April – and play out the campaign to a full conclusion.
The destination of the Premier League trophy is well-known but when it is handed over is in major doubtCredit: PA:Press Association
This morning will also see the Football League hold an emergency meeting at 10.30am to determine their immediate future.
Both they and the Women’s Super League are expected to followed the lead of the Premier League and call a halt to matches with immediate effect.
Last night’s positive tests for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi saw both London clubs immediately go into lockdown.
Arsenal’s game with Brighton was an immediate casualty, with Chelsea’s trip to Aston Villa set to follow.
The league had issued a statement confirming this weekend’s games would go ahead as scheduled barely half an hour before Arsenal confirmed the Arteta diagnosis.
But Prem chiefs responded by confirming an emergency club meeting will be held this morning which will assess the rapidly evolving situation.
Mikel Arteta’s diagnosis has thrown the English game into further crisisCredit: EPA
Some clubs – understood to include a few currently fighting relegation – are pushing for the league to be cancelled.
But that remains firmly off the agenda at this stage.
In any event, the Prem rulebook means the clubs have no say in the way the competition is scheduled.
It is a decision entirely under control of the board, interim chair Claudia Arney, chief executive Richard Masters and Kevin Beeston.
The clubs will be consulted via what is likely to be a video conference at the new League headquarters close to Paddington station in West London.
While it seems certain that this weekend’s games will now be off, the looming international break at the end of March does provide a bolt hole.
The league is likely to be put on hold now until at least the second week of April.
But with UEFA poised to confirm it will will postpone Euro 2020 for 12 months and allow domestic leagues to stretch into the middle of summer, the Prem will seek to take advantage of the extended window and – if possible – restart and play out the remaining games.
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Also set to bite the dust are Champions League and Europa League fixtures, their postponement likely confirmed this morning.
In addition, the German Bundesliga will join the raft of divisions halting play having initially gone behind closed doors.
Local broadcasters had pledged to show this weekend’s matches for free amid the outbreak but they too are set to not go ahead at all.
Martin Keown says the Premier League must finish the season after the suspension
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
