Football will not resume in England until at least 30 April after the enforced suspension due to the Coronavirus
outbreak was extended by four weeks, with the current 2019/20 season increased indefinitely as a result in order to complete the current campaign.
A joint-statement from the Football Association (FA), Premier League, English Football League (EFL) and Women’s Professional Game confirmed that the initial two-week ban on professional football until 4 April had been extended to include the entirety of next month, with sport unlikely to resume for the foreseeable future as the nation battle the Covid-19 outbreak.
With at least six weeks being scratched off the football calendar, a decision was taken on Thursday following a conference call to lift the previously agreed season deadline of 1 June, even though UEFA would like to see domestic and European football concluded by that date.
The move comes from all 20 Premier League clubs meeting via teleconference and also comes with the full backing of the Professional Footballers’ Association and League Managers’ Association, meaning that that the top four flights of professional football will conclude by being played out during the summer if allowed.
The statement read: “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’.