Premier League and FA plot to end season “behind closed doors” if coronavirus epidemic worsens – excluding fears for Liverpool title

The Premier League season could end behind closed doors if the spread of the coronavirus in the UK gets worse, reports say.

Sport has been hit hard by the COVID-19 epidemic, with Italian national football and Six Nations matches postponed.

The total number of cases in the UK has grown to 39, while almost 90,000 people have caught the virus worldwide.

A widespread epidemic in the UK is considered likely over the next few days and weeks, increasing the possibility of postponements to the British sports calendar.

Emergency options are being developed for the national football season, with the FA open to the possibility of ending the season behind closed doors, according to The Sun.

It is hoped, however, that if the matches were postponed for a short period, they could be rescheduled before the end of the campaign.

It has been suggested that the Premier League season could also be canceled, inevitably putting the Liverpool title triumph under threat.

Despite losing for the first time in 44 games at Watford on Saturday, the Reds need only four more wins in the last ten games to claim the title.

And manager Jurgen Klopp was forced to talk about the possibility of the campaign being canceled at his press conference on Monday.

“I can’t believe Liverpool fans are thinking about it,” said the German coach.

“If we delete the season, who plays the Champions League next season and all that.

“It’s a great story, but Liverpool fans aren’t foolish enough to believe these things.”

The coronavirus was also discussed by European football’s governing body, UEFA, during its executive committee meeting in Amsterdam on Monday.

Qualifications for the European Women’s Championship are scheduled for this week, while the Euro 2020 men’s play-off matches are scheduled to take place later this month before the finals in June and July.