Premier League suspended until April 30 but league will be completed
The decision was announced on Thursday after Euro 2020 was moved to 2021
English football, including the Premier League, will not return until at least April 30, it was announced on Thursday as coronavirus continues to spread across Europe.
The Premier League was one of the last of Europe's big five leagues to suspend activity but it has now taken a proactive step to move ahead of other leagues, including Spain's La Liga.
However, the Premier League insist that they will get the season finished, with June 1 set as a loose date for when they hope the campaign can be completed.
The decision comes two days after UEFA announced the European Championships scheduled for this summer would now be played in 2021.
That gave European leagues more time to play with. La Liga is currently suspended until next week but the stoppage is likely to go on as long as England's, if not longer.
Here is the full Premier League statement:
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.
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 FA’s Rules and Regulations state that "the season shall terminate not later than the 1 June" 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 for this limit to be extended indefinitely for the 2019/20 season in relation to Professional Football.
Additionally, we have collectively agreed that the professional game in England will be further postponed until no earlier than 30 April.
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