Premier League clubs are preparing for the possibility of playing the entirety of next season behind closed doors without fans in attendance.
Discussions around a resumption of the 2019/20 season are due to continue this week, with the hope that the remaining 92 matches can be played throughout the summer months to conclude the campaign.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, fans will not be in attendance for those matches and it’s expected that the start of next season will also begin behind closed doors.
Now, Sky Sports is reporting that top-flight clubs are preparing for the possibility of the entirety of the 2020/21 campaign taking place without fans in attendance - which would also impact the entirety of the EFL, if required to be put in place.
Such action would affect all competitions, including the FA Cup and UEFA’s European competitions, and would be a significant blow to the revenue streams of Premier League clubs.
The possibility of having no fans in attendance for a whole season would be even more devastating for clubs in the lower leagues of the EFL, where the gate receipts are an important part of the running of the club.
Clubs have already been hit heavily by the financial implications of the crisis, which is expected to have long-lasting effects on the economy both in general and within the sporting world.
