London (AFP)
The Premier League is discussing Friday the terms of a possible resumption of the championship, a meeting during which nine clubs should propose that it ends before the deadline of June 30, according to the English press.
Premier League leaders have already said the competition, which was halted in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, will not resume until "it is safe and appropriate to do so".
Hard hit by the Covid-19 with nearly 14,000 deaths, the United Kingdom announced on Thursday the extension for at least three weeks of the confinement, established on March 23.
In the event of a takeover, nine elite clubs would be favorable, according to the Daily Mirror, for a conclusion of the championship by the end of June in order to avoid complications or disputes related to the end of player contracts or sponsorship.
Chelsea midfielder Willian and Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen, for example, are two of the stars whose contracts will expire on June 30. For its part, Liverpool must change sponsor jerseys, from New Balance to Nike, while Watford and Newcastle must also change suppliers. So many possible contractual disputes that could arise if the season did not end on the scheduled dates.
An alternative to this deadline would be to end the season with the current ranking, largely dominated by Liverpool with 25 points ahead. But if the Reds were finally crowned after 30 years of waiting, it could also trigger legal challenges on the part of teams relegated or ultimately not qualified for the European cups.
Faced with the vagueness in which the various European championships are plunged, UEFA must meet its member federations on Tuesday by videoconference for a point on the future of suspended competitions, before a meeting of its executive committee two days later.
© 2020 AFP