EPL clubs keen to finish season by June 30 despite COVID-19 crisis

A growing number of Premier League clubs will today push for the season to be finished by June 30.

Chiefs from the 20 sides will hold a video conference for the latest coronavirus crisis talks — including the first official discussions of a definitive end-date being put in place.

Some clubs fear a delayed campaign into July could lead to legal mayhem over player contracts, with the only alternative being to declare the season null and void.

One insider said: “Clubs are starting to take the view that if we go beyond June 30 – when player contracts end – we will be in chaos territory.

“Fifa say clubs and players have the ability to extend contracts but there is nothing hard and fast legally to make that happen.

“Everybody wants to see the season played out, of course we do.

“But how do you demand that players who are actually out of contract, who might be considering moves to teams they are going to be playing against, give everything?

“You can’t. If the games aren’t finished by the end of June the sporting integrity of the competition could go out of the window.”

There is a split between the clubs who believe that every step must be taken to play out the campaign to its conclusion and a growing number who argue the timetable makes that impossible.

Any discussion of terminating the season would be met with fierce push-back from League bosses and some clubs, especially table-topping Liverpool who could be denied their first championship crown since 1990.

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So far boardroom voices in favour of writing off the season have been dismissed as a minority view, with the majority of clubs concerned about the financial hit if broadcasters demand their cash back.

Prem bosses have modelled detailed scenarios which envisage a resumption behind closed doors from a number of starting points in June, July and even August.