Premier League news – live: Clubs aim to complete season amid coronavirus crisis as £20m donated to NHS

Follow the latest updates as clubs seek clarity over remainder of campaign

Coronavirus: How has sport been affected?

A Premier League meeting on Friday resulted in the indefinite suspension of the English top flight.

A statement read that the league would not resume at the start of May as previously planned, while a proposal of 30 per cent pay cuts for Premier League players was made.

The Premier League also said it would financially support lower leagues in the country, while immediately sending a £20 million donation to the NHS. Follow the latest updates below.

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On Thursday, Belgium’s top league cancelled the remainder of their season, with Club Brugge awarded the title.

Brugge had a 15-point lead ahead of the season-ending play-offs. Decisions are yet to be made about relegation places and European spots.

Now, the Dutch top-flight is also facing pressure from teams, who want the campaign to be scrapped.

Key Points

• Season will not resume in early May, reads Premier League statement
• 30 per cent pay cut for top-flight players is proposed
• Support for lower-league teams has been determind
• A £20 million donation to the NHS will be made immediately

[3 April 2020 07:40 · Alex Pattle]

Welcome to The Independent's coverage of Friday's Premier League meeting between all 20 clubs.

The teams will meet over video call as they seek clarity over when top-flight football in England will return - if it returns at all.

Follow all the latest updates here.

[3 April 2020 07:56 · Alex Pattle]

On Thursday, Belgium’s top league cancelled the remainder of their season, with Club Brugge awarded the title.

Brugge had a 15-point lead ahead of the season-ending play-offs. Decisions are yet to be made about relegation places and European spots.

Could the Premier League ultimately follow suit?

[3 April 2020 07:56 · Alex Pattle]

There have also been calls from Eredivisie sides to scrap the Dutch top flight.

Right now, Premier League clubs are more intent on finishing the season than voiding it.

[3 April 2020 08:23 · Alex Pattle]

Today's meeting will also see discussions around the ongoing controversy about player wages in the face of wage cuts for non-football staff at clubs.

Several sources have told The Independent that a PFA statement will be made on the situation by Friday evening.

[3 April 2020 08:25 · Alex Pattle]

Tottenham cut the wages of all 550 non-playing staff at the club this week, placing others on furlough "where appropriate".

First-team players are still being paid in full, however, leading to criticism of the north London side from many fans and pundits.

Even former Spurs coach Harry Redknapp came down hard on his old club:

[3 April 2020 08:27 · Alex Pattle]

Recent video conferences have merely seen the Premier League season postponed twice, until 30 April, in what have effectively been time-buying moves as they seek to figure out how to complete the season.

It is possible that another postponement of fixtures is coming today, with 30 April seeming too soon for the resumption of the English top flight.

However, with clubs seeking more clarity than that, perhaps a stronger move will be made.

[3 April 2020 08:29 · Alex Pattle]

One of the more radical solutions to finishing the season was suggested this week...

[3 April 2020 08:33 · Alex Pattle]

It seems there is a growing mood of agitation at the moment.

“Some of our lot aren’t the calmest at the best of times,” one high-level Premier League source told The Independent.

[3 April 2020 08:36 · Alex Pattle]

​A further issue is that recently installed CEO Richard Masters is currently on compassionate leave, meaning “there aren’t as many people to calm everyone down”, a Premier League source told The Independent.

[3 April 2020 08:45 · Alex Pattle]

The unease is even visible in WhatsApp groups that feature people involved in the decision-making, The Independent understands.

Another senior Premier League figure told The Independent that one group more than 100 contributors and it was hard to keep a sense of perspective with worried messages flying around all day.