Restart 19/20: League and Cup dates announced
The resumption of 2019/20 has moved closer this week with two separate announcements about the Premier League and the Emirates FA Cup.
PREMIER LEAGUE STATEMENT - THURSDAY 28 MAY
Premier League Shareholders today [Thursday] agreed to a new provisional restart date for the 2019/20 season of Wednesday 17 June, provided that all safety requirements are in place.
Aston Villa v Sheffield United and Manchester City v Arsenal – postponed due to the EFL Cup Final – will now take place on 17 June, followed by a full match round, beginning on Friday 19 June. Due to COVID-19, games will take place behind closed doors.
Premier League Shareholders also approved a proposal that would see all 92 remaining matches broadcast live in the UK by the League’s existing broadcast partners: Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC Sport and Amazon Prime.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: "Today we have provisionally agreed to resume the Premier League on Wednesday 17 June. But this date cannot be confirmed until we have met all the safety requirements needed, as the health and welfare of all participants and supporters is our priority.
"Sadly, matches will have to take place without fans in stadiums, so we are pleased to have come up with a positive solution for supporters to be able to watch all the remaining 92 matches.
"The Premier League and our clubs are proud to have incredibly passionate and loyal supporters. It is important to ensure as many people as possible can watch the matches at home. We will continue to work step-by-step and in consultation with all our stakeholders as we move towards resuming the 2019/20 season."
Premier League Shareholders today [Thursday] agreed to a new provisional restart date for the 2019/20 season of Wednesday 17 June, provided that all safety requirements are in place.
Aston Villa v Sheffield United and Manchester City v Arsenal – postponed due to the EFL Cup Final – will now take place on 17 June, followed by a full match round, beginning on Friday 19 June. Due to COVID-19, games will take place behind closed doors.
Premier League Shareholders also approved a proposal that would see all 92 remaining matches broadcast live in the UK by the League’s existing broadcast partners: Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC Sport and Amazon Prime.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: "Today we have provisionally agreed to resume the Premier League on Wednesday 17 June. But this date cannot be confirmed until we have met all the safety requirements needed, as the health and welfare of all participants and supporters is our priority.
"Sadly, matches will have to take place without fans in stadiums, so we are pleased to have come up with a positive solution for supporters to be able to watch all the remaining 92 matches.
"The Premier League and our clubs are proud to have incredibly passionate and loyal supporters. It is important to ensure as many people as possible can watch the matches at home. We will continue to work step-by-step and in consultation with all our stakeholders as we move towards resuming the 2019/20 season."
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The planned kick-off times in the UK for live Premier League matches will also differ from the traditional times.
Weekend matches will be scheduled as follows (all times BST):
Friday 20:00
Saturday 12:30; 15:00; 17:30; 20:00
Sunday 12:00; 14:00; 16:30; 19:00
Monday 20:00
Midweek matches will be scheduled as follows (all times BST):
Tuesday 18:00; 20:00
Wednesday 18:00; 20:00
Thursday 18:00; 20:00
Weekend matches will be scheduled as follows (all times BST):
Friday 20:00
Saturday 12:30; 15:00; 17:30; 20:00
Sunday 12:00; 14:00; 16:30; 19:00
Monday 20:00
Midweek matches will be scheduled as follows (all times BST):
Tuesday 18:00; 20:00
Wednesday 18:00; 20:00
Thursday 18:00; 20:00
THE FA STATEMENT - FRIDAY 29 MAY
We have today agreed a provisional restart date for the 2019/20 Emirates FA Cup, which has been on hold since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Following the announcement that the 2019/20 Premier League season will provisionally restart on Wednesday 17 June, the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals will now take place over the weekend of Saturday 27 June and Sunday 28 June.
The Emirates FA Cup semi-finals will take place across the weekend of Saturday 18 July and Sunday 19 July, with the Emirates FA Cup Final on Saturday 1 August.
Further information on venues and timings will be announced in due course.
We have today agreed a provisional restart date for the 2019/20 Emirates FA Cup, which has been on hold since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Following the announcement that the 2019/20 Premier League season will provisionally restart on Wednesday 17 June, the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals will now take place over the weekend of Saturday 27 June and Sunday 28 June.
The Emirates FA Cup semi-finals will take place across the weekend of Saturday 18 July and Sunday 19 July, with the Emirates FA Cup Final on Saturday 1 August.
Further information on venues and timings will be announced in due course.
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"We are pleased to agree the provisional restart date for the 2019-20 Emirates FA Cup," said the FA's chief executive officer, Mark Bullingham.
"The competition has been an integral part of the English football calendar for nearly 150 years, and we’d like to thank the Premier League executive and clubs for their support in scheduling the remaining matches during this unprecedented time.
"This has been a difficult period for many people and, while this is a positive step, the restart date is dependent on all safety measures being met. The health and wellbeing of players, staff and supporters remains our priority.”
The schedule for the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals, which was originally drawn on 9 March, is:
Leicester City v Chelsea
Newcastle United v Manchester City
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Norwich City v Manchester United
"The competition has been an integral part of the English football calendar for nearly 150 years, and we’d like to thank the Premier League executive and clubs for their support in scheduling the remaining matches during this unprecedented time.
"This has been a difficult period for many people and, while this is a positive step, the restart date is dependent on all safety measures being met. The health and wellbeing of players, staff and supporters remains our priority.”
The schedule for the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals, which was originally drawn on 9 March, is:
Leicester City v Chelsea
Newcastle United v Manchester City
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Norwich City v Manchester United