EFL Announces Intent to Complete Season, Pledges £50m Relief Package for Clubs
Mar 18, 2020
PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - MAY 16: The EFL logo is seen prior to the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Second Leg match between Portsmouth and Sunderland at Fratton Park on May 16, 2019 in Portsmouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
The English Football League has announced its intention to complete the 2019-20 season, and a £50 million relief package will be provided to the clubs.
The EFL board met on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its effect on their competitions. Those competitions will be completed, per a statement:
"The primary objective, in order to protect competition integrity, is to deliver a successful conclusion to the 2019-20 season, subject to the over-riding priority around health and well-being. Plans continue to be developed on the agreed principle that it is in the best interests of the EFL and clubs to complete the current season at the appropriate time.
"The EFL is continuing regular dialogue with the Government and relevant health authorities and, as and when more information is known regarding the scale and extent of the coronavirus outbreak in this country, a decision will be taken on the resumption of the League’s fixtures."
The Football League Trophy final between Portsmouth and Salford City, scheduled for April 5, has been postponed. All other EFL matches up until April 3 have been postponed as well.
The Athletic's Matt Slater broke down the relief package, which includes interest-free loans and early release of award payments:
More detail on EFL rescue package: - Tomorrow, Ch'ship clubs will get remaining £800k from Sky/PL pot & will be able to apply for £584k interest-free loan - L1 get £250k & can borrow £183k - L2 get £164K & can borrow £120k - £1m in EFL Futures pot will be allocated pro rata now
According to BBC Sport, all Championship clubs have unanimously backed finishing the current season, rather than canceling it altogether. The 47 teams in League One and League Two expressed their fear the financial hit they would take could reach £50 million if the season does not start again before summer.
The financial health of EFL clubs was a major issue well before play was suspended. Both Bolton Wanderers and Bury FC went into administration last year, and the latter club was eventually expelled from competition and went out of business altogether.
Walsallchairman Leigh Pomlett expressed fear the coronavirus epidemic could lead to more problems, per Phil Barnett of the Independent.
The Premier League and EFL suspended all fixtures on Friday, following the example of other top leagues around Europe. UEFA also postponed the Euro 2020 tournament until next summer:
BREAKING: UEFA announce that EURO 2020 will be postponed until June 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic pic.twitter.com/YxQImEwufX
The coronavirus has infected over 193,000 people worldwide, according to the latest figures of CNN.
Premier League Promotion 2019: Leg 1 Results for EFL Championship Play-Offs
May 11, 2019
DERBY, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Kemar Roofe of Leeds United applauds the fans at full time during the Sky Bet Championship Play-off Semi Final First Leg match between Derby County and Leeds United at Pride Park Stadium on May 11, 2019 in Derby, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Leeds United edged out Derby County 1-0 at Pride Park on Saturday in the first leg of their 2019 Championship Play-off semi-final.
Earlier, Aston Villa came from behind to win 2-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion, who ended the match with 10 men.
In Leeds' clash with Derby, neither side managed to get an effort on target in the first half, in which the visitors dominated the possession after a bright start from the hosts.
The first shot on target came with the decisive goal when Kemar Roofe bagged his fourth goal against Derby this season by turning in Jack Harrison's cross:
Roofe meets a wonderful ball from Harrison and gives Leeds the lead in this play-off semi-final!
Roofe almost netted a second soon after, but Kelle Roos was equal to his effort.
Leeds were fortunate not to concede a penalty as the Rams pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
Referee Craig Pawson motioned to give a spot-kick to the hosts after Harrison bundled Jayden Bogle over, but he reversed his decision on consultation with the linesman:
Controversy!
Craig Pawson awards Derby a spot kick but overturns his decision after consulting with the linesman. Justice served?
The visitors could have had Mateusz Klich sent off late on too, but he was only shown a yellow card after he pushed his head into Fikayo Tomori's chest.
In Saturday's lunchtime kick-off, Gayle gave West Brom the lead at Villa Park when he pounced on a mistake from Glenn Whelan to tuck home his 24th goal of the season with a clinical finish:
⚽️ Lethal from Dwight Gayle...
Whelan loses the ball in midfield and he is punished
The hosts were in front four minutes later. Tammy Abraham dispatched a penalty, his 26th strike of the campaign, after Jack Grealish was fouled by Kieran Gibbs.
West Brom should have had a penalty of their own soon after when Abraham bowled Mason Holgate over.
Matters got even worse for the Baggies in the 88th minute when Gayle, who had earlier been booked for time-wasting, slid into Villa goalkeeper Jed Steer while trying to connect with James Morrison cross and was shown a second yellow card.
The striker will miss the second leg on Tuesday as a result.
