One of the biggest question marks for many when it came to restarting the season with an end date that would extend beyond June 30th was player contracts—namely, a question of what would happen to those whose deals were winding down or were out on loan.
In the end, it appears not to have been an especially major stumbling block, with the Premier League officially agreeing on an extension protocol after discussions with all of the clubs earlier this week that will allow mutually-agreed extensions beyond that date.
“Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to be allowed to enter into short term contract extensions with players whose deals are due to expire on 30 June of this year,” read a statement on the issue of contract extensions from the league released earlier today.
This decision will apply to both expiring player contracts and expiring loans, though in a case where a player with an expiring contract is unhappy with his situation it is not impossible that the player could chose not to extend until the end of the season.
“What we decided today is to ensure as far as possible that clubs complete the season with the same squad they [started it],” said CEO Richard Masters. “Players can extend their contracts until the end of the season, but it must be agreed by both parties.”
It’s not all smooth sailing, with players and managers seeking clarity about the process—and perhaps more time to prepare—before signing on, but with Italy now also looking to restart in June, there appears a widespread determination to resume playing.