Despite reports saying otherwise, the Championship season cannot be voided as the coronavirus suspension continues.
Nottingham Forest’s campaign has been halted due to the COVID-19 outbreak, with elite football in England suspended until April 30, at the earliest.
However, it remains unlikely that the campaign will resume next month, with calls from several quarters for the season to be null and voided.
Prior to the suspension, Forest were in fifth place in the Sky Bet Championship table and challenging for promotion to the Premier League with nine fixtures left to play.
There have also been reports suggesting that the EFL are preparing plans to finish the season, with one such proposing to stage all remaining fixtures take place behind closed doors in July over a four-six week schedule.
However, it has emerged EFL clubs cannot unilaterally scrap the campaign.
Any change to promotion and relegation needs to be in agreement with the FA League Committee and the Premier League, the other league that would be affected.
The EFL have already publicly stated that their 72 clubs have agreed to commit to completing the season.
Eventual resumption of the EFL – and the Premier League and the National League – would depend on the green light from the government, police and medical authorities, with it believed the government are keen to allow the season to restart once it is much safer to do so.
However, the main issue is with promotion and relegation to and from the top flight, with clubs in the Championship reportedly considering their legal options.
The FA League Committee already decided last week, in consensus with many representatives of the 91 leagues across steps 3-7 in the pyramid, to end the season below the National League’s three divisions.
However, the decision has not yet been ratified by the FA Council, with several teams considering legal action. It is still possible final positions, and thus promotion and relegation, will be determined by a points-per-game formula.
