Report: China mooted as destination to finish Premier League season
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Premier League clubs, growing increasingly desperate as they continue to explore all options in order to complete the current season, have floated the possibility of shifting the entire operation abroad, according to The Athletic's Adam Crafton and David Ornstein.
Ahead of a crucial videoconference on Friday, one club suggested China as a potential destination, assuming it was deemed safe and there was concrete evidence that the spread of the new coronavirus had been quelled in the country, Crafton and Ornstein report. China, where the contagion is believed to have originated, has slowed the outbreak and appears to be on the road to recovery after implementing strict lockdown procedures nationwide.
In proposing the idea, the unnamed club reportedly said it would help decrease the strain on the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) and keep club facilities available for emergency services.
The idea has apparently not been received well.
"It just doesn't make any sense. It is a crazy idea and I think it will get firmly rejected," another club's chief executive told Crafton and Ornstein. "If we were to pick up the Premier League and move it to another part of world right now we'd get absolutely slaughtered. Somebody accused us the other day of being in a bubble. I feel a little bit like they are right at the moment - even though I am not, I can see why people think we are."
Another club director said the China proposal was a "waste of energy."
This comes on the back of a report suggesting World Cup-style camps, with players and club personnel completely isolated from the outside world, was another option being considered.
The Premier League remains intent on completing the 2019-20 season, wary of the £762 million in broadcasting revenue it stands to lose should matches not resume. Broadcasters BeIN Sports and Canal+ recently confirmed they were withholding payments to the top two tiers of French football until those leagues resumed play.
If England's premier competition does return at some point - which is very much in doubt right now - an accelerated schedule will be required in order to ensure the 2020-21 campaign isn't affected.
A three-week "festival of football" has also been discussed, according to Crafton and Ornstein, but that too will only be sanctioned once it is deemed safe to stage matches.