Scrap EPL season if it can’t be finished by end of June, says Kane

England captain Harry Kane said on Sunday the Premier League season should be cancelled if it cannot be completed by the end of June because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The English top-flight is currently suspended until at least April 30 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, with a likely further delay to be announced soon.

There is no clear idea about when or if football will be able to resume, but Euro 2020 has been cancelled, which opens a window to bring domestic seasons to a conclusion in the summer.

But Tottenham striker Kane does not want Premier League chiefs to let the current campaign go past June or even the start of what would be the 2020-21 season in August, as has been suggested in some quarters.

“I know the Premier League will do everything they can to finish the season, and that they are looking at every option possible,” Kane said in an Instagram Live conversation with former Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp.

“I think, for me, we do need to try to finish the season. But there needs to be a point where enough is enough.

“Playing into July or August and pushing next season back I don’t see too much benefit in that. But obviously I don’t know too much about behind the scenes and financially.

“Probably the limit for me is the end of June. If the season’s not completed by the end of June we need to look at the options and just look forward to next season.”

Premier League matches could potentially be staged behind closed doors in a bid to complete this campaign once the current lockdown in Britain is over.

Kane does not think dragging out the season will help anyone though, especially if it delays the next term.

“The further this season is pushed on, it would have such a big knock-on effect for next season, with the Euros in 2021, and even World Cup 2022. But that’s just my opinion,” he said.

“Football is secondary at the moment. I know there still have to be plans in place, and I’m sure everyone is trying to do that.

“All that is out of my hands though, there’s nothing I can do personally, so from my point of view we’ve just got to wait and see what happens. Hopefully this clears up as soon as possible, and we can try to get back to normal.”

Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Mourinho and his coaching staff will put players through their paces from home starting Monday as the club holds live video training sessions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Spurs’ players are in self-isolation with Britain in lockdown and the Premier League suspended until at least April 30.

The players so far have been working through their own individual training programmes designed by the coaching and sports science teams, and England midfielder Harry Winks said they were still adjusting to the new routine.

“It’s a bit strange for all of us, but I’ve got my head around it,” Winks told the club’s website.

“We’ve all been given a schedule, but it’s flexible, we can do it in our own time.

“So, for instance, I might have a lie in one day, but then I’ll work later. The important thing is to get it done.”

On Sunday, the club said it gave Steven Bergwijn and Son Heung-min permission to return to their home countries.

Son flew to South Korea for personal reasons, while Bergwijn returned to the Netherlands ahead of the birth of his child.

Tottenham said both forwards will continue their individual rehabilitation and training programmes during their time away.

Bergwijn is recovering from an ankle injury picked up against Burnley earlier this month, while Son sustained a broken arm last month.

Agencies