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Sports News of Sunday, 19 April 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

PL stakeholders never considered scrapping season - Brighton chief

Before the suspension, Brighton haven't won a league game this year Before the suspension, Brighton haven't won a league game this year

Against the reports that the Premier League season could be scrapped, the stakeholders have never considered the option, Brighton's chief executive Paul Barber says.

Though rendering the season null and void isn't visible, Barber believes that any conclusion to the 38-game league season will be "imperfect".

With 92 games left to determine the league title, European qualification and relegation, the 2019/20 PL season was suspended on March 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic that has since affected over 120,000 people, killing more than 16,000 so far.

Asked whether voiding the league campaign has ever been on the table, Barber told Sky Sports News: "No it hasn't.

"From everyone's point of view as I have said many times before this crisis started, we go into a season wanting to play out 38 games and we want to do that by playing 19 games at home and 19 games away from home.

"Ideally, in the same conditions with the full crowd. I think because of what we are facing with the pandemic we accept that whatever happens to the end of this season it is going to be imperfect.

"We have already had a long delay - the last time we played was on March 7 at Wolves.

"It seems like a very long time ago but equally we are very conscious that it doesn't seem quite right to be talking too much about football when 700-800 people a day are losing their lives.

"It is a real devastating time for so many people around the country. Our hearts and thoughts go out to those people who are suffering so much at the moment.

"But football is also important to us because it is our business but at the same time we are very mindful of doing it at the right time and in the right way when it is safe to do so."

Following the latest Premier League meeting on Friday, June 8 has emerged as the best-case scenario for when the Premier League season could restart, with a targeted start date of the 2020/21 campaign in early September.

"We are all speculating on dates, we are trying to put some certainty in a very uncertain situation," Barber said.

"But I think, first of all, everyone is determined to finish the season if we can but equally everyone is very concerned about people's health and not putting any more pressure on the NHS.

"It is about getting that balance between wanting to finish the season and not compromising all the efforts the government are making to keep everyone safe."

Brighton sit two points clear of the relegation zone - occupied by Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich - with nine games left to play.