Premier League confirms 12 September start date for 2020-21 season
The English Premier League has announced that its 2020-21 season will begin on 12 September, following a delayed end to the current campaign due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The 2019-20 season had been due to conclude in May, but the pandemic led to the suspension of all major sports events in the UK and in other markets around the world.
Play resumed in the Premier League’s 2019-20 season on 17 June after the UK government approved the return of professional sports from the start of June.
The delayed campaign will conclude this weekend, though this season’s English FA Cup, as well as Uefa European competitions the Champions League and Europa League, will run into August.
As such, Premier League shareholders agreed to postpone the traditional August start date for the season to allow for all other 2019-20 competitions involving its clubs to conclude.
The 2020-21 season will kick off on 12 September and run to 23 May next year, with the Premier League saying it will continue to consult with both the English Football Association and English Football League (EFL) on the scheduling of all other domestic competitions.
Meanwhile, the EFL, which runs the three divisions directly below the top-tier Premier League, will also begin its season on 12 September.
EFL clubs in League One and League Two voted to end their seasons early due to the enforced postponement, but play resumed in the Championship from 17 June.
Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion both secured promotion to the Premier League by finishing in the two automatic positions in the Championship, with Brentford, Fulham, Cardiff City and Swansea City to compete in the play-offs to decide the third promoted team.
The play-offs will run from 26-30 July, with the final to take place at Wembley Stadium on 4 August.