English top flight open discussion on shorter season

PREMIER LEAGUE chief executive Richard Masters says curtailing the 2019-20 season was discussed by top-flight clubs for the first time at yesterday’s shareholders’ meeting.

He also revealed there is an “ongoing dialogue” with the Government and other authorities about finishing the Premier League season at neutral grounds, as it was reported that the league would ask again to be able to finish the campaign on a home-and-away basis.

The Government’s Covid-19 recovery strategy document sets out the possibility for professional sport to return behind closed doors no earlier than June 1, and while the Premier League remains committed to restart, Masters said the idea of curtailment was raised.

“It was the first time we discussed curtailment – it’s still our aim to finish the season obviously but it’s important to discuss all the options with our clubs,” he said.

“The contents of that discussion have to remain confidential. What I can say is that all of the talk was about finishing the season. No conclusions were reached on any other models. Those are future conversations we may need to have.”

It is understood clubs were told at a shareholders’ meeting on May 1 that the only way to complete the season in a way which satisfied both the Government and the police was to play at eight to 10 ‘approved’ neutral venues.

This has been met with opposition from a number of clubs, including Brighton, Aston Villa and Watford.

Deputy chief constable of South Yorkshire Police, Mark Roberts, who is the national football policing lead, said clubs arguing over the fairest way to finish the season needed to “get a grip” in a situation where thousands of people have died from the virus, and thousands more severely affected.

However, Masters suggested the matter was not completely closed and that dialogue would continue between the clubs, and between the leagues and the authorities. It has been reported that clubs urged the league to ask the Government to reconsider the neutral grounds stance.

“I think everybody would prefer to play home and away if at all possible. And I think it’s clear to see that some clubs feel more strongly about that than others,” he said.