London, Thursday

The Premier League, English Football League and Football Association have announced the suspension of all domestic football will be extended to April 30 at the earliest due to the coronavirus outbreak.

However, they are committed to ensuring the 2019-20 campaign is completed after changing an FA law to allow the season to be ‘extended indefinitely’ past the previous June 1 deadline.

A conference call was held between Premier League clubs on Thursday morning, chaired by chief executive Richard Masters, as they tried to find a way to move forward.

The extension of the suspension makes the ambition to have the season finished by June 30 – a stated aim which came out of Tuesday’s UEFA meeting – look increasingly optimistic.

UEFA decided to postpone Euro 2020 by one year to help the domestic schedule conclude. 

World governing body FIFA has established a working group to look at amendments and temporary dispensations in relation to standard player contracts, which expire on June 30.

There has not been a game played in the English top flight since March 9 when Leicester City beat Aston Villa 4-0, with fixtures falling by the wayside over the last week and a half.

The first game to be called off was Manchester City against Arsenal last Wednesday, and then the entire league was postponed on Friday after Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for coronavirus.

An FA statement read: ‘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’re 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. -Dailymail