Priority is to finish, not cancel or void, current season says FA chief

UEFA's plan to delay the European Championships this summer has allowed much-needed time to potentially finish this season the FA's chief executive has said.

After all 24 Championship teams said they were in favour of finishing the season rather than voiding it earlier today, Bullingham said the decision to reschedule Euro 2020 for the summer of 2021 instead has allowed the FA time to potentially play the remaining games, should the coronavirus pandemic get under control.

"Everyone's priority is to finish this season," Bullingham told Sky Sports.

"That's one of the main reasons for delaying the Euros, to allow a window that, if the virus gets under control, there will be a window to potentially finish the season. At the moment, we don't know what's going to happen. We're planning every eventuality, so that we can react. The most important thing at the moment is people's health.

"We're covering every eventuality. At the moment we've got a number of contingency plans and we will continue to adapt as and when we get more information.

"Clearly there are different scenarios, if you try and finish the season before the end of June and after it. At this moment in time…there are so many variables, we're building up a contingency for every different eventuality. Some are more complicated than others but the number one priority at the moment is the health of the nation, and football will play its part in that."

Milton Keynes is also set to host three games in the women's European Championships next summer, but with the men's tournament moving, hosting the competition in England may also require some schedule tinkering.

"Clearly there will need to be a delay," Bullingham added. "We need to work with UEFA to work out whether that will be to later in 2021 or into 2022. It's a very important competition for us and we want to get that right. Not having a FIFA Men's World Cup in summer 2022 means there's a window for it."