Premier League clubs committed to finishing season, but no deadline set
Premier League clubs remain focused on finishing the top-flight season but didn't set a June 30 deadline to complete the fixture list at a gathering on Friday.
With the English top flight on ice since mid-March as a result of coronavirus, it turned out reported that as much as nine clubs were keen to complete the campaign by the finish of June.
Nonetheless it is understood that the 20 clubs did not discuss wrapping up the remaining 92 Premier League fixtures at that time if they met on a conference call with league chiefs.
With fears that failure to complete the season could cost the Premier League a lot more than £1 billion ($1.2 billion), clubs looked at various models for a potential go back to action.
Britain is on lockdown until May 7 at the initial to limit the spread of COVID-19, leaving English football to play a waiting game.
You will find a general acceptance among clubs that matches will be played behind closed doors if the competition can resume, with restrictions on mass gatherings more likely to stay in force for the near future.
A Premier League statement said several complex scenarios were being worked through.
"Medical and wellbeing of players, coaches, managers, club staff and supporters are our priority and the league is only going to restart when medical guidance allows," it said.
"Today's shareholders' meeting provided an opportunity to discuss possible scheduling models. It remains our objective to complete the 2019/20 season but at this stage all dates are tentative while the impact of COVID-19 develops."
Premier League clubs are worried by the legal implications of the campaign running past June 30, which is when standard player contracts expire.
FIFA, football's world governing body, has proposed that contracts be extended by mutual agreement until a club's season actually ends.
- Wage cuts? -
Premier League clubs remain holding discussions with players over wage deferrals and cuts.
Players were widely criticised for being slow to take pay cuts while clubs incurred the wrath of former players and fans by furloughing non-playing staff.
Liverpool, Tottenham and Bournemouth have since reversed their decisions to use the government's furlough scheme.
Southampton became the first club to strike a deferral agreement with their players last week and it has been reported that Arsenal are near to agreeing 12.5 percent earnings cuts with their players.
Players are thought as keen that hardly any money deferred or cut from their wages would go to help the UK's National Health Service and charities through the pandemic.
"We are acutely alert to the distress COVID-19 is leading to and our thoughts are with those directly afflicted by the pandemic," the Premier League statement added.
"In response to the pandemic, the Premier League, our clubs and players have provided essential support for communities and the NHS and can continue to do so after matches recommence."
