The Premier League met this past Friday for their third emergency meeting since Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi both tested positive for the coronavirus in mid-March.
This latest meeting saw the league postpone the season indefinitely but still with the hope that it could be concluded at some point this summer. It was tentatively targeted to get back underway on April 30th, but that scrapped without a new date set.
This is the statement they released on Friday:
“It was acknowledged that the Premier League will not resume at the beginning of May – and that the 2019/20 season will only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
“The restart date is under constant review with all stakeholders, as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic develops, and we work together through this very challenging time.
“The Premier League is working closely with the whole of professional football in this country, as well as with the Government, public agencies, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the game achieves a collaborative solution.
“With this, there is a combined objective for all remaining domestic league and cup matches to be played, enabling us to maintain the integrity of each competition.
“However, any return to play will only be with the full support of Government and when medical guidance allows.
“The sporting and financial implications for Premier League clubs as well as for The FA, EFL and National League were considered at today’s meeting.”
One aspect of this statement that is crucial to getting this season completed is the reference to working with the Government. Without approval at the highest level, there’s no way the season will be allowed to resume.
The Mirror have an exclusive report which sheds some light on the Premier League’s contact with Government officials. According to the report, they are in advanced talks about resuming this season in early summer.
Shockingly, this report by David Maddock claims that they have reached a tentative agreement to restart the league in June. However, it is contingent on the pandemic improving by that time.
The Government expects to see a spike in positive cases of the coronavirus over the next few weeks with marked improvement after that. If that expectation unfolds over the next month, the league will be given the go-ahead to return.
There are, however, stringent restrictions that the league will need to abide by. The matches will have to be played in a controlled environment behind closed doors. Extensive measures will be in place to keep the stadiums and facilities sanitized.
Talks will be ongoing in the coming weeks as the situation becomes clearer and will be altered accordingly.
The clubs have been told to start preparing for a June return. There is also talk of a mini-training camp in late May that would be under the same contingencies of the matches with the players staying isolated from the general public.
This is an ambitious plan by the league to get this season completed. They have to be ultra-cautious not to make the situation any worse, but hopefully, the situation will have greatly improved so that this becomes a viable option.
84 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Apr 5, 2020 at 11:51 PM
Comment #1carltoon,
If you want to practice French google Duolingo, it’s free and a really fun way to learn a language,
carltoon
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:00 AM
Comment #2Jail I think I’ll try that. Travelled all over Europe when we had our Motor home, and always tried to pick up a few words in each country, like you say everyone speaks English, but when your in remote parts it harder, we always look for teenagers to ask the way or if we want to anything, as they always are able to understand.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:23 AM
Comment #3carltoon,
My second season working in Crete ,I’d picked up the most basic Greek you possibly could, however a Kiwi guy we knew who’d stayed there during the winter for whatever reason and lived up in remote villages had managed to become quite fluent, we had a beach party one night with a fire the season after and when the coppers turned up this Kiwi guy just turned up out of nowhere and gave the patter in Greek and saved a load of people from being arrested!!
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:24 AM
Comment #4Jail, Carltoon
At least you’ve tried to learn alternative languages. While English is the universal lingua franca for business, it’s only common courtesy to get the hang of the basics of the native language of of whichever country one visits. It’s appreciated albeit a source of hilarity as we stumble with the language
However, many Brits are arrogant and assume that they’ll be understood wherever they are and if not, shout!
Life’s be much easier if we, as you are or did, tried to relate to others.
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:25 AM
Comment #5Where were you in Crete? I love the island and gave always felt comfortable there.
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:27 AM
Comment #6Jail
You worked in Crete for a couple of seasons? Let me hazard a guess – Ag Nicolios or Malia?
Jail for Ashley
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:30 AM
Comment #7lesh,
Ochi,
Hersonosis
Online Guy
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:31 AM
Comment #8Carltoon
Here’s Munsters New Parrot ..the other one is in the Jail for foul and abusive language to the Garda.
https://youtu.be/c6Zh2OdhBTI
Online Guy
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:31 AM
Comment #9Whoops wrong link ang on .
Online Guy
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:33 AM
Comment #10Carltoon .
https://youtu.be/wvhqbZhTDwE
Online Guy
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:34 AM
Comment #11https://youtu.be/A0lEuI9H_dg
Jail for Ashley
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:36 AM
Comment #12lesh,
The Dutch are the best at the languages, if you’ve ever met a Dutch forklift driver, they aren’t the brightest yet they speak very good English, British architects can’t speak German, Dutch Spanish, Italian or Chinese, there is areason for t
Online Guy
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:36 AM
Comment #13https://youtu.be/Y6TWEGd8hOY
Jail for Ashley
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:38 AM
Comment #14that, we aren’t less intelligent or lazy its just that there’s not a need!
carltoon
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:40 AM
Comment #15Years ago went to Malia, oh my god it was horrendous, the apartment was in an potato field, the owner was evil, and the streets were strewn with young girls out of their heads lying in the street. Our room was two cement blocks for beds with one sheet between us, with chips and bottle tops down the side. We had to go a long the coast to the next resort. Mind I got a fantastic tan. Herakleion airport was like Hell. My husband had put a new white t-shirt on, and some idiot knocked my arm while I was holding a cup of coffee, it went all over his new shirt. Ha ha
Dondatta13
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:42 AM
Comment #16Guitars…
My most unusual guitar is a Brian Eastwood Bender Distortocaster! lol
carltoon
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:43 AM
Comment #17And of course I got the blame. The old town was nice.
Mister Tuff
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:44 AM
Comment #18Jail – bout an hour ago I signed up for the duolingo French course. Did four lessons. Not bad at all.
I did it on my PC but problem encountered was the “what do you hear” questions. Just could not make out what was being said at all.
Plus will have to learn about the points and targets.
Probably download the app onto my phone tomorrow hopefully the audio will be better.
Mister Tuff
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:45 AM
Comment #19Jail – the course is a good distraction (during lockdown) and keeps the brain active.
carltoon
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:46 AM
Comment #20OLG, why ya posting them to me. Is that you singing on the last one.
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:49 AM
Comment #21Jail
Some magnificent beaches on the north coast.
I first went to Crete in the late seventies when Malia was nothing much more than a large village. There was a taverna just outside of Malia – strangely enough it was called ‘Black and White’ and it was used by the locals who were drinking copious amounts of something that was brought from the back, in jugs.
Curiosity got the better, and the host relented and brought a couple of glasses, issued a health warning and demonstrated the liquid’s flammibility. What was it? Home made Raki (not ouzo). Jeez, I swear it’d cure anything from boils to ingrowing toenails.
Anyway, a day or two later, off we went, hot foot to Sitia, found a purveyor of said same substance who was kind enough to give us a couple of empty bottles which he filled from a Jerry Can, brought from the back. It kept the mosquitos away as well!
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:52 AM
Comment #22carltoon
Didn’t see your post at 15.
Yes, when I was first at Malia, it was clear the way it was going. The downhill drag was showing the signs of becoming a Bigg Market and that was enough for me. Such a shame.
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 12:55 AM
Comment #23Jail for Ashley
I’ve always found the Dutch to be very easy people and their sense of humour’s not a million miles away from ours.
Online Guy
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:11 AM
Comment #24Jail
If you want to learn Flemish and be fully conversant in that language then pick up an annual or two of
Hergè’s adventurers of Tin Tin .
Not Joking ..look at the pictures in each given frame , by page 30 you will be able to hold a conversation
That’s if you have a retentive mind of course.
Online Guy
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:13 AM
Comment #25Lesh
Your spot on about the Dutch ..always good people in my experience.
Online Guy
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:17 AM
Comment #26Of course you can get Hergè’s adveturs of Tin Tin in most languages .. German is a good starter.
Prounounciation comes into it of course with French and Latin laungages , or should I say the Romantic languages .
I speak 4 languages but only radioese and a little more ..I know all the technical stuff for when I’m on the air.
Mixed with phonetics we get by .
Online Guy
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:18 AM
Comment #27Languages.
geordietom
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:19 AM
Comment #28cant get to sleep , thought i’d come and check the night shift to see who’s a night owl …
i’m still confident about the takeover happening …
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:23 AM
Comment #29geordietom
You can’t sleep cos you’re looking forward to your painting.
There’s not many about and I think we’re being ground down by the lockdown – cabin fever.
carltoon
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:24 AM
Comment #30There’s no music tonight Tom. Only OLG acting silly with his stupid Parrott post, anyway I’m going to say goodnight,
geordietom
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:24 AM
Comment #31Carltoon …
night hinny …
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:28 AM
Comment #32Aye, me as well.
Take care and be safe.
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:30 AM
Comment #33Geordietom
Nowt personal, I’m knackered having done nowt all day.
Take care
toon22
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:57 AM
Comment #34Have we been sold yet ?
toon22
Apr 6, 2020 at 1:58 AM
Comment #35How many years do you think it takes to sell the club ?
It seems , so far, its more than 10 years and counting
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 2:20 AM
Comment #36Froggy
Be patient bonny lad. You’ll have your day but I don’t think it’ll be seeing Ashley locked up; he’s very rich and hires expensive legals to make sure he’s squeaky clean.
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 2:21 AM
Comment #37Guten Nacht.
DubaiMicky
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:58 AM
Comment #38Guten Morgen lesh
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:26 AM
Comment #39I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, a ball won’t be kicked in anger before the winter.
I’ll stick my neck out and say 31st October, you heard it here first.
Lindisfarne
Apr 6, 2020 at 7:06 AM
Comment #40“Kick or Tweet”