UEFA have drawn out unprecedented plans to finish European seasons in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

It seems unlikely that the Premier League will restart in the coming weeks or months while the UK remains in lockdown, but UEFA have applied a ticking clock to the schedule with their latest suggestions.

Their meeting on Thursday made the suggestion that European leagues which do not restart by June should instead confirm Champions League qualification within a play-off format.

Per the Daily Mail, the organisation stated that it is: 'preferable that suspended domestic competitions would restart with a different format in a manner which would still facilitate clubs to qualify on sporting merit'.

Liverpool currently find themselves 25 points clear at the top of table, while Manchester City, Leicester City and Chelsea make up the rest of the top four as things stand.

Potential for PL play-offs

However, the chasing pack of Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and even Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all capable of closing the gap.

Lockdown in the UK was recently extended by another three weeks and the Mail predicts that the earliest date the Premier League could feasibly restart is June 8.

Key points from the meeting

The key points from UEFA's meeting are listed as follows: 

  • -Domestic leagues starting in June must finish by August 3
  • If leagues have not resumed by June, then UEFA will suggest play-offs to finalise standings
  • Leagues that can't complete their season will then determine teams eligible for European cups on sporting merit
  • No wild card or UEFA ranking to determine teams eligible to next European cups

However, UEFA also acknowledged that leagues could be cancelled entirely if 'there is an existence of an official order prohibiting sports events' from the national government. 

As far as the 2019/20 Champions League season is concerned, UEFA plan to conclude the competition within a 26-day period that would conclude with a final in Istanbul on August 29. 

The future of football, at the very least, seems to be getting clearer in this time of great uncertainty.