English football suspended until at least April 30
Professional football in England
will not resume until April 30 at the earliest due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A statement from the Premier
League, EFL and the Football Association, along with the Women’s professional
game, the Professional Footballers’ Association and the League Managers’
Association confirmed the extension to the suspension.
The governing bodies had
originally agreed to a suspension last Friday until early April.
The statement read: “We have
collectively agreed that the professional game in England will be further
postponed until no earlier than April 30.”
The joint statement said the
bodies were united in their commitment to getting the 2019-20 campaign
finished, and that the FA board had agreed to extend indefinitely the season
end date, which is usually fixed at June 1.
“The FA, Premier League, EFL and
women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA, understand we are in
unprecedented times and our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19,”
the statement 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.”
