Halves could well be shortened when play resumes, says Taylor

PROFESSIONAL Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has raised the possibility that halves may be shorter than 45 minutes as discussions continue about the Premier League’s return.

English top-flight clubs underlined their commitment to restarting the 2019-20 season on Friday, but said “it was agreed that the PFA, LMA, players and managers are key to this process and will be further consulted”.

Welfare and wellbeing of individuals returning to work is key and Taylor (right) will pore over the plans as the Premier League looks to resume in mid-june.

“They’re not stupid,” he said. “They will put safety first. There is a protocol being put together that is going to be presented, involving all medical experts and government medical experts. There will be a meeting of the shareholders of the Premier League and shortly after that the document of returning to work should be finalised and put to players and coaches.

“Then the practicality of all those issues will be looked at club by club.”

It is understood the next meeting of Premier League clubs will take place on Monday.

Put to Taylor it would benefit some clubs for the league not to finish, he said: “We’ll have to wait and see. I’m talking about a protocol coming. I’m talking about the future.

“We don’t know the future. What we do know is what ideas have been put in, the possibility of having more substitutes, games possibly not being the full 45 minutes each way. There’s talk of neutral stadiums. There’s been lots of things being put forward.

“See what the proposals are, and then have the courtesy to let the managers, coaches and players also assimilate all those and come to a considered view.” • MANCHESTER United would like to extend Odion Ighalo’s stay with his loan deal from Shanghai Shenhua expiring at the end of May.