This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the world, the Premier League has been stalled since mid-March, with over 190,000 people infected and 28,734 killed in the United Kingdom alone.
According to Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, clubs should discuss the idea of playing halves of less than 45 minutes when matches resume, to help players manage their workload.
During a recent conference call, all 20 Premier League clubs discussed plans for a resumption of training this month, followed by a possible return to action in June. However, several players have expressed concerns about the safety of returning to action.
"They're not stupid. They would have to be satisfied that it's safe to return, and it's their choice," Taylor told the BBC.
He also suggested that steps should be taken to reduce player fatigue in a potentially cramped schedule, including the possibility of having more substitutes and games not being the full 45 minutes each way.
English Football League chairman Rick Parry said that there had not yet been discussion of having reduced halves, but he was open to new ideas, stating, "I guess the aim will be to reduce the strain on players. I don't think we should be ruling out any creative ideas considering the challenges we face," during a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing.
