Manchester United defender Luke Shaw calls for Premier League season to be scrapped

English full-back says campaign should be declared void and that playing games behind closed doors should not be an option

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Chelsea - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 11, 2019 Manchester United's Luke Shaw in action Action Images via Reuters/JasonShow more

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has said that the current Premier League season should be scrapped because of the coronavirus crisis.

The Premier League confirmed last week that the season, originally suspended until April 30, will not resume at the beginning of May and will only return when the situation stabilises.

League leaders Liverpool needed six points to seal the title while European spots and relegation positions were still unclear with nine games to go, raising questions about how they would be decided if the season does not resume.

"Scrap it and start again. Start it again, yeah," Shaw said during the Combat Corona fundraiser for UNICEF, a Fifa 20 competition that was streamed on Twitch. "It's got to be, you know. If we can't carry it on, it's got to be void."

Shaw was part of the event – that also featured Gareth Bale, Paulo Dybala, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jordan Pickford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek – which raised about  £17,000 (Dh76,700) through online donations.

Some Premier League clubs have discussed playing games without spectators in attendance but Shaw said that was not a view he endorsed as fans filling up stadiums was crucial.

"Fans are so important. You realise it even more [now]," Shaw, said. "I think the sport is for fans really ... if you don't have fans, and you don't play in front of fans, it just doesn't feel right.

"Especially on matchday, the fans are always amazing and always help the team. Whether it's home or even away, our fans are always brilliant and I feel like they're always there with us."

United were three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea before the season was suspended.