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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Freddie Keighley

Premier League chiefs' dismissive reaction to Liverpool CEO's call to complete season

Liverpool CEO Peter Moore was reportedly met with silence last Friday as he reaffirmed the importance of finishing the Premier League season to fellow club bosses.

The Reds have a 25-point lead at the summit of the league but concerns are growing about whether the season will be able to restart amid the coronavirus outbreak.

UEFA decided on Thursday that qualification for the Champions League and Europa League could be determined on a "sporting merit" basis if play cannot resume.

However, that would not guarantee Liverpool being crowned Premier League champions for the first time.

And the Anfield club are growing increasingly alarmed about the number of rivals who are beginning to support the idea of cancelling the season, according to the Daily Mail.

Moore (right) was met with "awkward silence" by other Premier League chiefs (REUTERS)

In fact, when Moore reiterated the importance of finishing the league season during the video call with rival chiefs, he was met with "an awkward silence".

The Dutch Eredivisie joined the Belgian Jupiler Pro League in cancelling the season on Friday.

No team was crowned champion in the Eredivisie despite Ajax edging AZ Alkmaar on goal difference, and no sides will be promoted or relegated.

Second-tier side Cambuur led their division by 11 points and their coach told broadcaster NOS the decision is "the biggest disgrace in the history of Dutch sport".

Meanwhile, president of the Royal Dutch Football Association Just Spee believes other leagues will follow suit in cancelling the season.

"To be honest, seeing what is happening and seeing that things get postponed week by week by week, how realistic is it that within the next three or four weeks we will come to a different conclusion? Not so much I believe," Spee told BBC Sport.

"And also the Premier League will need a number of weeks to complete their competition. Is there going to be enough time for that? Doubtful, very doubtful."

While Spee defended the decision not to crown a champion in the Eredivisie, he believes Liverpool may still win the title even if the Premier League is cancelled.

He added: "We did not believe that that was appropriate. For example if you were to compare that to the English situation, maybe you would come to a different conclusion, Liverpool is so way out compared to the rest, I would not blame the FA to come to that conclusion. But in our case that was simply not appropriate."

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