SPORT DRAKES WARNING LIMBO AS SEASON PUT BACK FURTHER
FEARS WHOLE SEASON MAY BE SCRAPPED /PAGE 40 UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHEN TOWN WILL PLAY AGAIN AS FA SAY NO GAMES UNTIL AT LEAST APRIL 30
TOWN won’t now be back in action until April 30 at the earliest.
The Premier League and EFL have released a fresh statement amid the outbreak of the coronavirus, putting back the date matches in England will resume.
Last week, the Premier League, EFL and women’s professional game decided that all elite level football in England would be postponed until April 3 in a bid to slow down the spread of COVID-19 across the UK.
But with the situation only predicted to worsen in the coming weeks, the season has now been pushed back even further.
Town still have nine games of the Championship season left to play.
That means all but the Terriers’ last match of the season, due to be against Millwall on May 2, has been postponed.
However, the whole fixture list will be re-done once the season resumes.
The FA’s rules and regulations state that ‘the season shall terminate not later than June 1’ and ‘each competition shall, within the limit laid down by the FA, determine the length of its own playing season.’
However, the FA’s Board has agreed to overrule that rule on this occasion to allow the 2019/20 season to reach its natural conclusion.
A statement from the Premier League read: “We are united in our commitment to finding ways of resuming the 2019/20 football season and ensuring all domestic and European club league and cup matches are played as soon as it is safe and possible to do so.
“We have collectively supported UEFA in postponing EURO 2020 to create space in the calendar to ensure domestic and European club league and cup matches have an increased opportunity to be played and, in doing so, maintain the integrity of each competition. The progress of COVID-19 remains unclear and we can reassure everyone that the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority. We will continue to follow Government advice and work collaboratively to keep the situation under review and explore all options available to find ways of resuming the season when the conditions allow.
“We would all like to re-emphasise that our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.”