Premier League restart to be pushed back… again

The restart date for the Premier League is expected to once again be pushed back when the English top-flight league’s board, along with all 20 clubs, meet via video link on Friday.

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As the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage England, it presents the possibility that the Premier League could shift the date into May. On the other hand, it could opt to follow Spain and France, who are among the two hardest-hit countries, and shut down the league for an indefinite period [of time].

Premier League and EFL suspended for THREE WEEKS after coronavirus ...
The Premier was initially set to resume on April 4 before being pushed back to April 30. The reality now looks bleaker as it could be in for an indefinite suspension (Image: Sourced).

Talks between the Premier League, Football League and the Professional Footballers’ and League Managers’ associations are continuing, with a decision to be presented to all the clubs concerned following Friday’s meeting. Talks about a resumption are also anticipated with the prospect of games being played behind closed doors to feature hotly on the agenda.

Insiders at European football’s governing body Uefa have said places reserved in next season’s Europa League for domestic cup winners, would revert to league positions if those leagues were not completed. Elsewhere, the Belgian League has become the first to declare its season over, although with 29 games out of 30 in the regular league programme already played.

Should France, Italy or Spain declare their league seasons closed, it is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the game given that, together with England, 16 from the 28 teams remaining in the Champions or Europa leagues come from one of those four countries.