Premier League clubs have been warned not to use the phrase ‘null and void’ when discussing contingency plans for the rest of the season as fears grow the campaign will be scrapped.
Sportsmail can reveal instructions from Premier League HQ have gone out telling clubs to use the word ‘curtailed’ instead when discussing the worst-case scenario of a cancelled season.
This is because it will provide more legal protection against broadcasters seeking a rebate on the top flight’s £3billion annual television deal.
The top-flight clubs have instead been told to use the word 'curtailed' about 2019-20
With a quarter of the season to play, Sky Sports, BT Sport and overseas broadcasters will demand a partial refund if it is not finished, although compensation clauses in the contracts are not pro rata, so they are not necessarily entitled to a fixed percentage of their outlay.