The
Premier League will meet again on Friday with an increasing number of clubs
wanting the season concluded by June 30 because of player contracts.
How to bring an end the 2019/20 season, suspended since the middle of March
because of the coronavirus pandemic, will unsurprisingly be top of the
agenda.
Clubs are still in favour of doing everything they can to finish the season,
rather than declare it null and void, but the possibility of dozens of
contracts ending before the campaign finishes has multiple clubs concerned.
The concern is that if the season does not end by June 30, out-of-contract
and loan players will be able to walk away from their clubs, even though
FIFA has recommended that deals due to expire could be extended to the end
date of any domestic campaign.
One Premier League club owner said: "Some clubs want the season to finish by
the end of June.
"How can it be fair for European places and relegation to be decided by
depleted squads."
No decisions are expected to be ratified at Friday's meeting and, as has
always been the case, the season will only restart when the government
advises it is safe to do so - most likely with games being played
behind-closed-doors - if it is even able to at some point over the summer.
One Premier League owner said: "The meeting will be about financial survival
and if and when we play games or abandon the season. Sadly, the season could
still be abandoned depending on government rules."
Most Premier League teams have nine games left to play, including runaway
leaders Liverpool who had a 25-point advantage when games were suspended
last month.
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