Premier League will look to ensure 2019/20 season is completed

4:07pm on Friday 1st May 2020
By Paul Macdonald

Premier League clubs have committed to finishing the 2019/20 season and will look to get back underway in June, following a meeting between delegates on Friday.

Club representatives at an extensive video meeting reached the conclusion that they will push ahead with 'Project Restart', with a provisional date of June 8 being mooted for returning to action.

The clubs will meet again next week to rubber-stamp the resumption of Premier League football - the lower leagues are involved in separate discussions but nothing yet has been decided as to where or when they come back.

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An official statement from the Premier League reads: "At a meeting of Premier League Shareholders today, clubs discussed possible steps towards planning to resume the 2019/20 season, when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

"It was reiterated that the thoughts of all are with those directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the Premier League’s priority is the health and safety of players, coaches, managers, club staff, supporters and the wider community.

"The League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers.

"The League welcomed the creation of the Government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning.

"No decisions were taken at today’s Shareholders’ meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding "Project Restart". It was agreed that the PFA, LMA, players and managers are key to this process and will be further consulted.

"The clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019/20 season, maintaining integrity of the competition and welcomed the Government’s support.

"There have been discussions on whether the remaining 92 games will be played at neutral venues, while clubs have pledged to test all players and staff twice a week during the process."

Leagues across Europe are exploring a range of options on how to deal with the 2019/20 season. The Dutch authorities have rendered the campaign null and void, with no champions and no relegation, while in France PSG were awarded the title, while the bottom two teams will be demoted and the top two in Ligue 2 sent up in their place.

There are already murmurings, however, that clubs are readying legal action against these decisions on the grounds that the season was not fully complete.

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