The Premier League is considering playing halves less than 45 minutes long when football returns from the coronavirus pandemic, according to Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor.
Following a video conference involving all 20 Premier League clubs last week, the determination to complete the season, which has been suspended since March 13, was re-stated by the league.
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Sources have told ESPN that the season will be concluded behind closed doors at neutral venues and Taylor has suggested that league matches could be shortened.
“I’m talking about protocol that’s coming out, I’m talking about the future,” he told BBC Radio 4.”We don’t know the future, what we do know is what propositions have been put forward and ideas.
“More subs, games possibly not being full 45 minutes each way, neutral stadiums, there’s lots of things put forward.
“We’re trying to wait to see what proposals are and have the courtesy to let the managers and coaches and players assimilate all those and come to a considered view.”
English Football League chairman Rick Parry also told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee: “I don’t think we should be ruling out any creative ideas at the moment given all the challenges we face…perhaps the thinking is it would alleviate the tiredness.”
La Liga is another league where changes are being considered to the game, with ESPN sources saying they want to include conversations between players, coaches and referees during games, picked up by pitchside microphones.
Sources have also told ESPN that a growing number of Premier League players do not want to play football during the global pandemic.