The Premier League, English Football League and Football Association have announced the suspension of all domestic football will be extended to April 30 at the earliest due to the coronavirus outbreak.
However, they are committed to ensuring the 2019-20 campaign is completed after changing an FA law to allow the season to be ‘extended indefinitely’ past the previous June 1 deadline.
A conference call was held between Premier League clubs on Thursday morning, chaired by chief executive Richard Masters, as they tried to find a way to move forward.
The Premier League had initially been suspended until April 4, with the EFL suspension originally ending a day earlier.
There has not been a game played in the English top flight since March 9 when Leicester City beat Aston Villa 4-0, with fixtures falling by the wayside over the last week and a half.
The first game to be called off was Manchester City against Arsenal last Wednesday, and then the entire league was postponed on Friday after Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for coronavirus.
An FA statement read: ‘The FA, Premier League, EFL and women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA, understand we are in unprecedented times and our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.
‘We’re united in our commitment to finding ways of resuming the 2019-20 football season and ensuring all domestic and European club league and cup matches are played as soon as it is safe and possible to do so.
‘We’ve collectively supported UEFA in postponing EURO 2020 to create space in the calendar to ensure domestic and European club league and cup matches have an increased opportunity to be played and, in doing so, maintain the integrity of each competition.
The FA’s Rules and Regulations state that “the season shall terminate not later than the 1 June” and “each competition shall, within the limit laid down by The FA, determine the length of its own playing season”.
‘However, our Board has agreed for this limit to be extended indefinitely for the 2019-20 season in relation to professional football. Additionally, we’ve collectively agreed that the professional game in England will be further postponed until no earlier than Thursday 30 April.
