The unprecedented announcement of a break in football is designed only to buy the football authorities some thinking time. Goodness, they have a lot of thinking to do. Greg Clarke’s expressed doubts about getting the season over the line via video-link to a sorry-looking collection of the Premier League board, Rebecca Capelhorn from Tottenham and Christian Purslow of Aston Villa.
The other 18 clubs in this new coronavirus-infected world were also at the other end of the telephone.
The FA chairman’s views were those of a realist, not a pessimist.
UEFA’s meeting next Tuesday surely has to sound the death knell for Euro 2020 as a realistic option this summer.
But it by no means follows that domestic football will be able to use the extra time to get its own affairs over the line.
Matches this weekend were only cancelled because the protagonists themselves were suddenly unable to fulfil the fixtures. At least seven clubs now have a number of players in self-isolation.
With government experts predicting that the disease will not even reach a peak for another 10 or 14 weeks, there is little prospect of meaningful competitive football in this country until July.
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The main problem this poses is that standard football contracts run until June 30. Players become free agents. Season-long loans expire and with the transfer window open squads could look very different when football does eventually resume.
Fairness has gone out of the window.
There are also other concerns. Over the summer, the hired-out London Stadium becomes a baseball venue and then an athletics arena. West Ham still have five home games to play.
If UEFA press ahead with their current agenda, they will want to know which English clubs are competing in their competitions next season.
The first Premier League involvement in the 2020-21 Europa League is currently scheduled for July 23.
The only way out of the mess was strong leadership, which was sadly conspicuous by its absence on Friday.
New Premier League chief executive Richard Masters refused to reach out to a sympathetic media after such a difficult decision and one fears for the sort of bold thinking that needs to take place while football rides out the storm.
Christian Purslow of Aston Villa made a very public front door exit then scampered to his cab evading questions when all anybody wanted was a bit of understanding.
While those in the know skulked behind the dark black windows of the Premier League’s impressive new headquarters in Paddington, details of such a momentous meeting had to be put together through a series of second-hand witnesses and partisan club views.
Now, though, big questions need to be answered, fully and publicly.
Who are we doing this all for?
What, actually, is the Premier League without its fans? Why should behind-closed-doors fixtures be considered even for a second?
Why do we need to set deadlines? The season ends when the season ends – then another one begins.
If we want our football slotted into regular calendar months, that adjustment can be made over time.
All over the world we are facing the same problems, so it is time for the authorities to align and create a bigger and better solution.
For football and for sport.
