EFL ‘likely’ to suspend all games amid expected meeting

EFL ‘likely’ to suspend all games amid expected meeting due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to reports from The Athletic writers.

In a fast-moving situation, this weekend’s fixture now looks to be in severe doubt, with uncertainty too about what will happen beyond that.

A statement from the EFL this morning said: “The EFL Board will meet this morning to make a decision on this weekend’s fixtures and beyond.”

Accrington’s League One game at Portsmouth tomorrow has been postponed. Pompey’s players and staff are self-isolating after playing Arsenal last week.

I need @EFL doctors to tell me there is no risk. @Pompey

If there is risk we have to pull it.#Covid_19

— Andyh (@AndyhHolt) March 13, 2020

My manager & I agree btw does not want to travel to Bolton tomorrow. One of our players is now in self isolation awaiting results. We just played Pompey who just played Arsenal. Will be reaching out to @EFL today re this & if they are going to make us play tomorrow.

— Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) March 13, 2020

Inevitable the @premierleague @EFL will be suspended today. You can’t start next season until this one finishes when ever that is. No title winners? Who goes in the @ChampionsLeague next season??Leeds WBA +1 miss out on PL??? 3 clubs in Prem stay up.

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) March 13, 2020

The Premier League are to hold an emergency meeting this morning, following the news that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi have tested positive for COVID-19.

The BBC claim a “suspension of several weeks (is) most likely, to take in the international break” for the Premier League, with “abandonment unlikely at this stage”.

Serie A and La Liga have already suspended. Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 have just been suspended until further notice by the French FA. Bundesliga and German second division games is planning a suspension from 17 March to 2 April. But as it stands this weekend’s games behind closed doors will go ahead as planned.

It is understood “that the EFL are likely to follow the same course of action as the Premier League – ie a suspension”.

The EFL said in a statement on Thursday evening that “matches will continue to take place as normal”.

However, the situation has developed rapidly since then and now fans have reacted to the news that the EFL are set to suspend all games…

Suspending means they’ll get played in the future right? Right? Tell me that’s what it means? It is what it means isn’t it? PLEASE GOD TELL ME THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS

— Tommo (@LUFC1992) March 13, 2020

Its not to do with that. Players are beginning to self isolate everywhere.

— Forza Sunderland (@ForzaSunderland) March 13, 2020

???????⚽ At this point it is staggering that the #PremierLeague and #EFL haven't made a call yet.

It's not about panicking, it's about doing the right thing.#Covid_19 #coronavirus

— Tom M (@mid_5) March 13, 2020

Doesn’t look like we’re seeing anymore football for a while ?

— Callum Kent (@callumkent) March 13, 2020

Can't see anything other than a suspension now.

— Robert Fletcher (@RobertF195) March 13, 2020

Mikel Arteta has changed everything

— Brian Owen (@Brian__Owen) March 13, 2020

Mikel Arteta, and that's the worst thing about it. It takes a manager to catch the virus before our governing bodies act.

— Joe Harvey (@jja_harvey) March 13, 2020

Please be on ??

— karl (@hcafckarl) March 13, 2020

Don’t ruin my weekend again

— Reece Brookman (@reecebrookman) March 13, 2020

Yeah suspend the EFL & Prem they said… meanwhile in the UK … ? pic.twitter.com/6Tb07AWpW7

— Alex (@YinBennett) March 13, 2020

Since yesterday lunch time in the #PremierLeague alone we have staff members of Leicester, Arsenal, Chelsea, City & now Everton in self isolation.
Simply cannot see any PL matches taking place this weekend (& for a while) so surely if that stops then the EFL will too.

— GillsInTheBlood (@GillsInTheBlood) March 13, 2020