Coronavirus: Premier League to hold emergency meeting Thursday over season's future

Published on: 14 March 2020

Gab Marcotti outlines the complexities of postponing Euro 2020 until next year due to coronavirus.

Steve Nicol and Shaka Hislop feel the correct decision has been made to suspend all major leagues in Europe.

Brendan Rodgers confirms Leicester have self-isolated three players over coronavirus concerns.

The Premier League will hold a meeting with clubs on Thursday to discuss the fate of the season, an FA spokesperson told ESPN.

The league was suspended until April 3 at the earliest on Friday after an emergency meeting.

Officials were forced to act when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea midfielder Callum Hodson-Odoi tested positive for the coronavirus. 

The league's suspension means doubt has been cast over how the 2019-20 season will finish. As it stands, Liverpool are 25 points clear of Manchester City who are on 57 points. Leicester City and Chelsea sit in third and fourth respectively. Manchester United are in fifth position. At the other end of the table Norwich City and Aston Villa are in the relegation spots. Bournemouth join them with 27 points but only on goal difference as Watford and West Ham also both have 27 points. 

UEFA will also discuss the postponement of Euro 2020 during an emergency video conference involving all 55 European football associations on Tuesday.

Leagues across Europe have been suspended with Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga affected as well as the Champions League and Europa League.

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A statement read from the Football Association read: "The FA, Premier League, EFL and Barclays FA Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship have collectively agreed to postpone the professional game in England until April 3 at the earliest.

"This action, which will be kept under constant review, has been taken due to the increasing numbers of clubs taking steps to isolate their players and staff because of the COVID-19 virus."

The Premier League also said it is the league's aim to reschedule the displaced fixtures, including those played by academy sides, when it is safe to do so.

In other sports, the NBA and NHL have suspended their seasons while the popular NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments have been cancelled for the first time in their respective histories.

Source: espn.co.uk

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