The Premier League has confirmed a start date of 12 September for the 2020/21 season and an end date of 23 May 2021.
The decision comes after shareholders agreed on an appropriate time for the action to return.
The EFL will be starting on the same weekend, with a confirmed end date of 8th and 9th May for Championship, League One and League Two clubs. EFL playoff competitions will follow, with their finals scheduled to take place on the final weekend of May.
Premier League Start Date Confirmed
Quick Turnaround for the Players
With the current season finishing on July 26, the newly announced start date will mean a turnaround of just under seven weeks for most Premier League clubs until the new season. This turnaround is even tighter for some Championship clubs and newly-promoted Premier League teams, as the Championship play-off competition will finish on 4th August.
Also, with the European competitions being finished in late-August, recovery time will come at a premium for those involved in it.
The Europa League final is scheduled for 21st August, with the Champions League final being played two days after.
Domestic Cup Competitions Still Undecided
Following the three-month suspension brought by the coronavirus pandemic, unprecedented circumstances mean a lot of adjustments still need to be made.
Among them are the dates for the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, the start dates of which have yet to be decided.
The Premier League has said that it will “continue to consult” with the FA and the EFL “regarding the scheduling of all domestic competitions”.
Manchester City and Chelsea remain in the UEFA Champions League this season, with Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers still involved in the Europa League. A delayed start for those clubs in the domestic cup competitions may be negotiated in the discussions still to come.
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