Fears grow football season could be over due to coronavirus threat

The Premier League, Football League, Women’s Super League and Championship postponed all matches until at least April 4, along with Under-23 and academy games.

The FA Cup quarter-finals, including Sheffield United’s home tie against Arsenal, have also been put on hold, while England’s Wembley friendlies against Italy and Denmark have been called off.

The Scottish Football League, Bundesliga, Champions League and Europa League also cancelled games, while global Formula 1, golf, rugby union, athletics, cricket and cycling events were scrapped or put on hold.

UEFA will meet on Tuesday, when this summer’s European Championships could be put back 12 months, or cancelled.

Non-league football was unable to agree a united stance, with the National League and Northern Premier League allowing games this weekend, while the Southern and Isthmian Leagues did not.

Despite that, Harrogate Town’s scheduled match at Solihull Moors was postponed with two Town players among four club employees self-isolating having coronavirus symptoms.

“There are two members of the playing staff and two from the coaching team in self-isolation,” said Town manager Simon Weaver. “One player looked really unwell when he arrived for training yesterday [Thursday] and didn’t even make it into the building. We sent him straight home.

“The other player felt ill after training on Thursday.

“Health has to come first, which is why we have had to act.”

In its statement on the matter, the Premier League outlined its “intention of returning on April 4, subject to medical advice and conditions at the time”, but that appears optimistic with the current expectation that the virus will not peak in this country until mid-June.

Football Association chairman Greg Clarke reportedly told the Premier League’s emergency meeting it was “feasible” the season would not be completed.

The Government’s advice early on Thursday evening was that sporting events should continue to be played for the time being, but the situation has moved on apace since. That night it was announced Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had contracted the virus, and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has also tested positive. Both club’s entire first teams, along with Everton’s, are self-isolating, as are some Manchester City and Leicester City players. Not completing the season would have huge legal implications.

Sheffield United are seventh in the Premier League, which would qualify them for next season’s Europa League if Manchester City’s appeal against a ban from European competitions is not upheld.

But the Blades have a game in hand on the two teams directly above, and winning it would move them into the Champions League places. It is at fifth-placed Manchester United.

Championship Leeds United and League One Rotherham United would be promoted if the season was to finish here, Barnsley are in the Championship relegation zone, but Hull City are directly above it.

The authorities could decide it would be unfair to award titles, promotions and relegations. As the situation is unprecedented and fluid and a consensus will be needed, it is hard to second-guess.

A cancellation of Euro 2020 could create space for an extension to domestic seasons across the continent, but contracts for players and sponsors are based around the football calendar. Most top-level playing contracts expire on June 30, but some lower down the leagues end sooner.

Such is the size of the Premier League’s various broadcasting deals at home and abroad, it has been estimated bringing its season to a premature close could cost up to £750m.

The financial cost to lower-division clubs dependent on gate receipts could be even more ruinous, and explains the decision by the National League and Northern Premier League to continue playing this weekend. They will review the situation on Monday.

“Our primary concern, as always, is to protect the financial stability of our 62 clubs,” said the Northern Premier League. “This means playing as many games as we can, so long as clubs wish to do so. The NPL board believes that pausing the season right now would prove disastrous for many clubs.”

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