Premier League season may be cancelled — League managers CEO says

The 2020 Premier League season may be cancelled if clubs do not agree to play in neutral venues, League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan said.

A vote is set to take place on Monday on proposals for football to return.

The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bevan says “time isn’t on our side and training needs to be in place very soon” for a return by 12 June.

All 20 clubs are committed to playing the 92 remaining fixtures of the 2019-20 season if and when it is safe to do so.

However, Brighton have said they are “not in favour” of using neutral venues because it may affect the “integrity” of the league.

The neutral stadium proposal needs 14 out of the 20 clubs to vote in favour for it to be adopted.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to update the UK’s position on lockdown and the plan for easing measures on Sunday.

Asked if a vote against neutral venues would lead to the season’s cancellation, Bevan said to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Yes, I think that probably is correct.”

“The government, if they haven’t already, will be making it clear that home matches with densely populated stadia, really puts into question whether social distancing rules can be adhered to,” he added.