Premier League chiefs are today poised to suspend the campaign as a result of the coronavirus.
But League bosses remain determined to resume as soon as possible and play out the season to a full conclusion.
Last night’s positive tests for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi saw both London clubs immediately go into lockdown.
Arsenal’s game with Brighton was an immediate casualty, with Chelsea’s trip to Austin Villa set to follow.
The league had issued a statement confirming this weekend’s games would go ahead as scheduled barely half an hour before Arsenal confirmed the Arteta diagnosis.
But Prem chiefs responded by confirming an emergency club meeting will be held this morning which will assess the rapidly evolving situation.
Some clubs – understood to include a few currently fighting relegation – are pushing for the league to be cancelled.
But that remains firmly off the agenda at this stage.
In any event, the Prem rulebook means the clubs have no say in the way the competition is run it scheduled.
It is a decision entirely under control of the board, interim chair Claudia Arney, chief executive Richard Masters and Kevin Beeston.
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The clubs will be consulted at what is likely to be a video conference attended by some clubs I person at the new League headquarters close to Paddington station in West London.
While it seems certain that this weekend’s games will now be off, the looming international break at the end of March does provide a bolt hole.
The league is likely to be put on hold now until at least the second week of April.
But with UEFA poised to confirm it will will postpone Euro 2020 for 12 months and allow domestic leagues to stretch into the middle of summer, the Prem will seek to take advantage of the extended window and – if possible – restart and play out the remaining games.
