English Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga – European football eyes end to coronavirus shutdown
- Dutch league called off with no champion declared, France called off until September and Italy may be forced to follow suit
- English Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’ could see June return, La Liga eyes same month but German Bundesliga could be earlier
Football leagues across Europe have been suspended since March because of the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed over 130,000 lives throughout the continent.
Lockdown restrictions are in effect worldwide although some countries are cautiously beginning to ease stay-at-home orders.
The English top flight is understood to be aiming to run a huge testing operation to keep footballers safe, with reports of 26,000 tests being lined up for players and staff.
Teams could reportedly return to full training mid-May and resume matches on June 8, with the plans to be discussed at a meeting of stakeholders on Friday.
The clubs remain committed to ending the 2019-20 campaign and there are compelling financial and legal reasons to play the remaining 92 games. A failure to finish the season is forecast to cost Premier League clubs an estimated £1 billion (US$1.2 billion).
