May 5 – The head of the English players’ union has suggested that Premier League games might not be played over the full 90 minutes if and when the season resumes.
Top-flight bosses are exploring a number of options to improve the safety of players and staff including FIFA’s idea of allowing more substitutes per match, and playing fixtures at neutral venues.
But Professional Footballers Association boss Gordon Taylor says the options also include a radical move of halves of less than 45 minutes each.
The Premier League said the idea of shortened matches is “not on the table” but Taylor told the BBC players “are not stupid. They would have to be satisfied that it is safe to return, and it is their choice.”
“We don’t know the future but we do know is what propositions have been put, what ideas have been put, the possibility of having more substitutes, games possibly not being the full 45 minutes each way with talks of neutral stadiums,” said Taylor.
“Ideally, you want to keep the integrity of the competition, and of course, that was about playing home and away and having the same squad of players as before it was suspended.
“So there’s lots of points to be made, but above all, can the seasons be completed and can they be completed safely?”
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