The Premier League season remains halted as the coronavirus pandemic grips the sporting world and no clear conclusion is in sight yet.
Top-flight clubs have a combined 92 matches left to play in the 2019/20 campaign and there is plenty still to be decided.
While Liverpool are on the verge of clinching the title, the relegation battle and the race for the European places are still wide open.
The ongoing issues surrounding coronavirus has meant the Premier League has been put on hold and there are many questions up in the air.
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– How long has the Premier League been suspended for?
Manchester City vs Arsenal was the first Premier League fixture to be postponed on Wednesday, March 11.
The following weekend’s top-flight matches were subsequently called off and there has been no action since then.
EFL matches, the FA Cup quarter-finals, Champions League and Europa League games and international fixtures have also been pushed back.
Euro 2020 has been rescheduled for next summer to give domestic leagues the chance to get their seasons finished if possible.
– When is the Premier League likely to resume?
After a meeting between the clubs on May 1, it was reiterated that the Premier League will only restart when government and medical guidance permits it to do so and ‘when it is safe and appropriate’.
The situation is clearly evolving day-by-day and the league did not offer a deadline by which play must resume.
The Premier League remain determined to complete the current season and avoid it being written off completely.
They said that ‘tentative moves’ to resume are underway but added talks over ‘Project Restart’ were not held.
Premier League wants season back by June 8 with ‘Project Restart’ proposing how to resume football amid coronavirus pandemic
A league statement read: “At a meeting of Premier League Shareholders today, clubs discussed possible steps towards planning to resume the 2019/20 season, when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
“It was reiterated that the thoughts of all are with those directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Furthermore, the Premier League’s priority is the health and safety of players, coaches, managers, club staff, supporters and the wider community.
“The League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers.
“The League welcomed the creation of the Government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning.
“No decisions were taken at today’s Shareholders’ meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding “Project Restart”.
“It was agreed that the PFA, LMA, players and managers are key to this process and will be further consulted.
“The clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019/20 season, maintaining integrity of the competition and welcomed the Government’s support.”
Another update from the league is expected to come next week.
Give COVID-19 the red card
The quicker we work together to stop coronavirus spreading, the sooner we can get back into the pubs, the gyms and stadiums and arenas to see live sport again…
STAY AT HOME. Only leave for the following purposes:
- to shop for basic essentials – only when you really need to
- to do one form of exercise a day – such as a run, walk or cycle, alone or with other people you live with
- for any medical need – for example, to visit a pharmacy or deliver essential supplies to a vulnerable person
- to travel to and from work – but only where this is absolutely necessary
For more info and tips, visit the NHS website.
The government has also issued further detail on what we can do during lockdown.
Everyone should do what they can to stop coronavirus spreading.
– Will the Premier League season be voided?
The league are desperate to play the remaining games as the cost of cancelling it could be up to £1billion, according to chief executive Richard Masters.
Sky, BT and overseas rights holders have already paid the Premier League for their full season’s broadcast rights, despite a quarter of the campaign left to play.
So scrapping the campaign will mean broadcasters will look to recoup millions.
– What could happen to the Premier League season?
One option to complete the season is a World Cup-style camp.
It has been suggested that clubs could gather in a neutral location to play out the remainder of the season behind closed doors, with only those personnel essential to staging and broadcasting the games allowed to attend.
It is understood this is one of many ideas under consideration, with the 20 clubs due to convene again by conference call this week.
There are a number of difficulties with the idea, not least how to deal with the necessity to have medical staff on hand during a public health crisis, and how the format could survive with even one positive Covid-19 test.
But the idea of multiple matches being televised on a daily basis throughout June and July, if the infection curve has flattened by then, could have some merit.
Premier League season ‘to be completed in seven-week window’ with plan to start on June 12
– What has the government said?
The government says talks are ongoing to get Premier League football up and running as soon as possible amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden says his department is leading discussions on how professional sport can restart should the lockdown restrictions be eased.
Weekly meetings are due to take place between medical officials from the major sports governing bodies and representatives of Public Health England.
It is understood the Premier League’s medical adviser Mark Gillett and the Football Association’s head of medicine Charlotte Cowie will be among those involved in the government discussions.
Dowden, speaking at a parliamentary questions session for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “I personally have been in talks with the Premier League with a view to getting football up and running as soon as possible in order to support the whole football community.
“But, of course, any such moves would have to be consistent with public health guidance.”
– What else has the Premier League said?
As well as supporting the NHS and promoting public health messages, the Premier League detailed its discussions regarding its players and clubs in lower leagues.
A statement on April 3 read: “In the face of substantial and continuing losses for the 2019/20 season since the suspension of matches began, and to protect employment throughout the professional game, Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to consult their players regarding a combination of conditional reductions and deferrals amounting to 30 per cent of total annual remuneration.
“This guidance will be kept under constant review as circumstances change.
“The league will be in regular contact with the PFA, and the union will join a meeting which will be held tomorrow [April 4] between the league, players and club representatives.”
It added: “Discussions also took place regarding financial relief for clubs in the short term and while there is no single solution, measures are to be put in place to immediately deal with the impact of falling cash flow.
“Critically, the league unanimously voted to advance funds of £125 million to the EFL and National League as it is aware of the severe difficulties clubs throughout the football pyramid are suffering at this time.”
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