Covid-19: "Premier League on TV every day can only be a good thing" (Martin Semmens, Southampton FC)

"If people are home for another month and Premier League football is on the TV every day that can only be a good thing. Not because we are more essential than the NHS (National Health Sevice) but because we can give people entertainment and show that we're fighting back," said Martin Semmens, vice-chairman (strategy) at Southampton FC (Premier League), to BBC Radio Solent, on 21/03/2020, with the Premier League currently suspended until 30/04/2020.

"We have to do what is right and safe for the general public. When everybody is safe and we're not using up NHS and police resources, the government would like us to get back to playing because we are entertainment and a sign that the country is coming back to normal," added Martin Semmens.

"We hope to get the league done by the end of June. As soon as you go past that date, there are legal challenges. If we ended up playing until 15/07/2020 and you had to extend a player's contract by two weeks, convincing a player to play two more weeks of football and get paid nicely to do it - I don't believe that will be a substantial challenge…