PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are set to have to pay back up to £177million to season ticket holders due to the coronavirus crisis.
The top flight is edging closer to a return later this summer but all talks are based on matches being played behind closed doors.
That could leave clubs liable to offer supporters and corporate clients refunds on tickets as they are unable to attend.
The Daily Mail claim that the 20 teams were projecting income of around £708m from match-day revenue this season.
But the coronavirus shutdown will mean that almost a quarter of that is set to be lost, with Manchester United set to be the worst hit by the loss of ticket revenue.
The Red Devils are facing at least a £27.5m hit on the £110m they made on matchdays at the 76,000-capacity Old Trafford last season.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham all made over £80m a season from home games. The immediate loss of around £20m partly explains the latter two clubs’ controversial decision, which they have since backtracked on, to furlough non-playing staff.
Meanwhile, the smaller clubs will pay a much lower price than their wealthy counterparts as they are more reliant on TV money than gate receipts.
The likes of Bournemouth, Burnley and Watford should all be able to continue as normal provided the season continues in some form.
The trio’s £100m broadcast income is over TEN times their revenue in ticket sales last season.
Clubs are already looking at taking a significant financial hit after 17 top-flight teams — excluding Newcastle, Everton and Norwich — suspended their season ticket renewal process.
Meanwhile, Fifa are reportedly ready to indefinitely extend the 2019/20 season, handing domestic leagues the power to decide their own fate in the coronavirus pandemic.
The chances of a null-and-void style cancellation are looking increasingly unlikely for Premier League bosses who have the weight of potentially having to pay back over £750million in fees to broadcasters on their shoulders.
A tentative plan to return in June or July as a TV event, with suggestions that Wembley could be used to stage up to FOUR games a day, has been mooted.
