The Premier League have written to clubs with instructions not to advocate a suspension of the top-flight season, following Sam Allardyce’s call for a circuit-breaker to quell the rise in positive Covid-19 cases.
In a letter sent to the 20 chief executives — to be passed on to managers — the League warned that any break in the season could have disastrous financial consequences.
It made clear that Allardyce’s description last Tuesday of a ‘circuit-break’ as ‘the right thing’ was not the message they wanted or expected from the clubs.
The Premier League agreed to pay rebates totalling £330million to domestic broadcasters alone last year as a result of the three-month suspension triggered by the initial lockdown, and mass postponements this season would lead to further financial penalties.