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Premier League clubs have discussed what could happen if they cannot complete the season for the first time, Chief Executive Richard Masters revealed after a meeting of the 20 clubs on Monday.
But they continue to believe that the 2019-20 campaign can be ended despite the fact that almost two months have passed since it was first suspended after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta contracted the coronavirus.
They also hope they can avoid having to play the rest of the season on neutral grounds.
Its goal of ending the season was pushed forward by the UK government on Monday, offering guidance that elite sport could return from June 1 if conditions allow it to move to the next phase of its response to the coronavirus pandemic. .
Clubs were told last week that any return to complete the season would have to be with games played behind closed doors and in neutral venues, to limit the risk of fans showing up off the field.
But that idea had been rejected by some of the clubs facing the threat of relegation, such as Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion, who expressed concern over the fairness of playing in neutral venues.
Discussions continue between the league and the government over the precise details of how a resumed season will be played out, and Masters said the clubs hope they can still find a way to play at home and on the road as usual.
“We are talking about neutral venues, obviously it is the preference of all our clubs to play at home if possible, but everyone should be aware of what the authorities are telling us and we will continue with that conversation,” Masters told reporters.
The clubs agreed to allow players whose contracts run out in late June to extend their offers until the end of the season.
Any restart of the campaign would see games played beyond the June 30 date, which is normally considered the formal end of the season.
World soccer’s governing body, FIFA, has drawn up guidelines suggesting contracts extend to the end of the extended season, but clubs are concerned about the legal situation if players refuse.
“We have been working as much as possible to ensure that the clubs complete the season with the same team they had before the suspension,” Masters said.
‘What was agreed today is that players can extend their contracts beyond June 30 until the end of the season, but both parties must agree and a later date can be scheduled for that; no later than June 23.
The worst scenario for the league is that conditions do not allow the season to restart.
‘I am pleased to reveal that it was discussed (reduction) for the first time, but the content of that discussion should remain confidential. What I can say is that all that was talked about was ending the season, ” Masters added.
‘No conclusions were reached on any other model. Those are future conversations that we may need to have.
‘There was a desire to see all the different implications; adaptations, if you like, to the Premier League model as we know to play the season and then discuss what is the fairest path forward, ” he said.
The government expected on Tuesday to publish a document on plans and guidelines for the return of elite sport.
The Premier League must submit details of its plans to European football’s governing body, UEFA, by May 25.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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