DEFINING DAY FOR ENGLISH FOOTBALL

ENGLISH football faces another defining day as the professional game prepares to consider an indefinite suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, while pressure builds for players to accept wage cuts or deferrals.

Premier League clubs will gather via conference call for a shareholders’ meeting today, where it is expected they will be briefed on discussions between the league, the English Football League and the players’ union, the Professional Footballers’ Association, concerning player wage cuts or deferrals to mitigate the financial impact of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Consideration will be given to an indefinite suspension of the professional game in England rather than a fixed date, with the landscape having shifted significantly since March 19 when the decision was taken to suspend until at least April 30.

Clubs from the Premier League to League Two have already placed non-playing staff on furlough leave.

The sport is also facing external pressure, with the chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee Julian Knight having written to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters calling for action on player wages.

And in France this week domestic rights holders, Canal Plus and beIN SPORTS, are withholding payments until the postponed matches take place.

Failure to complete any more matches would cost Premier League clubs around £750m in broadcast revenue alone, it is estimated.