Report: EPL clubs to discuss option of ending season by June 30

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An option to end the 2019-20 campaign June 30 will be discussed during a meeting between Premier League clubs Friday, Simon Stone of BBC Sport reports.

It's a measure that could resolve some of the uncertainty over several issues that have emerged since the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Player contracts are believed to be the primary concern, considering the possibility of teams resuming the season this summer without important squad members whose deals expire at the end of June.

FIFA recommended extending contracts until the current season ends following a meeting with clubs, players, leagues, national associations, and confederations earlier this month.

But Stone reports that Premier League players are not legally required to sign any agreements to extend their deals beyond the current June 30 deadline.

That uncertainty has resulted in a proposal to end the current campaign June 30 and preserve the integrity of the 2020-21 season, which Premier League officials consider more important than the current campaign, Stone adds.

Ending the season at the end of June will require a 14-club majority vote for approval, according to the Guardian's Nick Ames.

The proposed deadline would likely prevent teams from completing a 38-game schedule.

The English Football League, which includes the country's second, third, and fourth tiers of professional soccer, is reportedly targeting June 6 as a return date and planning to play matches behind closed doors. The Premier League will apparently also aim to resume its season June 6, according to Mark Ogden of ESPN FC.

Meanwhile, Friday's meeting will also include a discussion over increasing the number of Premier League teams from 20 to 22 next season by promoting Championship clubs Leeds and West Brom, and ending the 2019-20 campaign without relegating any top-flight teams, Stone reports.

Additional clubs, as Stone notes, would lead to increased television revenue and potentially avoid the need to repay broadcasters for this season. But there are still unanswered questions over the impact this could have on the lower tiers.

It's understood that the issues expected to be discussed at the meeting likely won't be immediately resolved, as Stone adds that teams could wait for guidance from UEFA, which announced plans to meet next week.