When football’s key decisions over virus will be made
FOOTBALL across Europe has been rocked to the core following the coronavirus outbreak.
Fixtures across the Premier League and the EFL have been suspended until the start of April but the expectation is that an extension to that is on the cards, with experts warning the worst of the coronavirus outbreak is yet to come.
A host of European leagues have also been suspended, while UEFA confirmed on Friday that all upcoming Champions League and Europa League games have been postponed until further notice.
Nobody in the game is quite sure what is going to happen next, but below we have taken a look at some of the key dates that could impact when football returns.
TODAY: After postponing the Champions League and Europa League, UEFA will hold an emergency board on Tuesday to discuss what they do next. The 55 member associations will hold a video conference to discuss the issues. TOMORROW: Football League clubs will meet to consider what move to make next.
THURSDAY, MARCH 19: Premier League clubs hold their emergency meeting to discuss plans for the remainder of the campaign.
FRIDAY, APRIL 3: Football set to resume This is the date when football is expected to return. Blackburn are set to host Leeds United in the Championship in a televised Friday fixture before the rest of the EFL and Premier League return the next day.
However, with experts warning the worst of the outbreak is yet to come, there is a very strong possibility football may not return on this date.
SATURDAY, MAY 2: The date when the Championship campaign was set to come to an end, but it now seems inevitable that league games will be played beyond this date.
SUNDAY, MAY 17: When Premier League season should finish. Again, and like the EFL, there is now a feeling that Premier League games will be played beyond this date with the season expected to be extended. MONDAY, MAY 18: The date when the summer transfer window is due to open and clubs can officially start making their move on potential new recruits. However, players cannot be registered officially by clubs until the start of July - which is when the FIFA international window opens.
But if the season isn’t concluded, which it looks like it won’t, it remains to be seen whether FIFA will introduce new rules regarding the opening of the window.
SATURDAY, MAY 23: FA Cup final day. Currently at the quarter-final stage, like the EFL and Premier League, games in the competition have been suspended by the FA.
If the season is to be extended then the final could be pushed back as a result.
MONDAY, MAY 25: The Championship play-off final is set to be played at the end of May, but again there is doubts it will take place as originally planned.
Currently, Fulham, Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Preston all occupy the play-off positions, while West Brom and Leeds United are on course to return to the top-flight via the automatic route.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12: Euro 2020 start date. This summer’s tournament is in serious doubt with some reports claiming that organisers have already been told to stop preparing with plans to move it back to next year.