SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The FA has confirmed that English football has collectively agreed to extend the postponement for all-levels of the professional play until Thursday 30 April.
The postponement has been agreed upon by The FA, Premier League, EFL and Women’s professional game, with the directive accepted by the PFA and LMA.
English football has undertaken this decision facing ‘unprecedented times’ as UK health and emergency services fight back to limit the scale of the COVID-19 outbreak.
In its statement, the FA also underlined its commitment to resuming the 2019/2020 football season, as well as assessing potential contingencies as to how the competitions would be finished in a safe manner.
Football leadership has backed UEFA’s decision to postpone its EURO 2020 tournament until a provisional June or July period, allowing European domestic leagues to finish the campaigns.
Seeking to finish its domestic schedule, the FA will extend its current rules and regulations which deem that the ‘season shall terminate no later than the 1 June’ so that each competition shall, within the limit laid down by The FA, determine the length of its own playing season.
The joint statement ends: “The progress of COVID-19 remains unclear and we can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority. We will continue to follow Government advice and work collaboratively to keep the situation under review and explore all options available to find ways of resuming the season when the conditions allow.”
The news of the postponement will, inevitably, affect the betting industry with football being one of the sector’s biggest industries. This has led to many companies identifying esports or virtual sports as potential short-term replacements until the live sporting schedule resumes.
