English Premier League could end on June 30

Published Apr 16, 2020

Share

CAPE TOWN - There have been loads of discussions about concluding the 2019/2020 English Premier League season. Clubs will meet again on April 17, to discuss a way forward .

An increasing number of clubs want the season to end on June 30 - citing player contracts and commercial sponsors.

The season came to a halt in mid-March following the Coronavirus outbreak, along with everything else on a global level, in order to mitigate the spread of the virus. And the question of how the season ends will again be up for discussion on Friday.

However, irrespective of their decision, the season will only resume once the British government decides it is safe enough to do so. The 2019/2020 season could still be abandoned as a result or games could be conducted behind closed doors during the English summer - roughly from May till October. As it stands on April 16, there are 98 476 confirmed cases and 12 868 deaths in the UK.

There have been increasing calls for the season to be concluded by June 30 regardless of games being played or not.

Key squad players contracts, like Jan Vertonghen for Tottenham and Willian for Chelsea, will expire on June 30 and players are not legally obliged to sign contract extensions.

Currently, there are still nine games left to play with Liverpool having a 25 point lead at the top. If the season is abandoned altogether, the 30-year premier league title drought will continue even longer. And although who the winners are not really in question, its more about Champions League spots, relegation from top-flight football and promotion to the league that is of greatest concern.

For LIVE updates on the Coronavirus pandemic, follow us on Twitter: @sacoronamonitor

CORONAVIRUS MONITOR

Related Topics:

Covid-19