EFL League One season suspended - this is what it means for Sunderland AFC

The EFL have suspended the League One season after the outbreak of coronavirus – but what will that mean for Sunderland AFC?
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We take a look at what the big decision means for the Black Cats:

What does ‘suspending the season’ mean?

The EFL have announced a suspension to the League One campaign, which will mean no fixtures will be played for a pre-determined period.

The EFL season is set to be suspended - and this is what it could meanThe EFL season is set to be suspended - and this is what it could mean
The EFL season is set to be suspended - and this is what it could mean
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That period is set to run until April 3, but much will depend on how the outbreak of coronavirus continues, or otherwise.

Should events progress as hoped, it would still be expected that the season would be concluded – albeit with fixtures re-arranged in the summer months.

There have already been reports that UEFA are considering moving this summer’s European Championships to deal with an extended Premier League and EFL season.

What does it mean for promotion and relegation?

Very little.

It is expected that fixtures will still be completed at a later date, meaning that promotion and relegation should take place as usual.

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There could be question marks over the play-offs, however, given the tight timescales involved with rearranging the season.

How long will a suspension of the season last?

This is currently unclear.

In other countries, the suspension has varied in length from two weeks to a month – with the option to extend if necessary.

League One is currently suspended until April 3, but this could be extended if coronavirus continues to spread.

When will the suspension start?

The suspension is set to begin immediately – meaning Sunderland's trip to Blackpool has been cancelled.

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The trip to Southend United on March 28 has also been postponed.

As things stand, Sunderland’s first fixture back after the suspension would be the visit of Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, April 4.

What have other countries done?

A number of other countries have announced suspensions to their leagues – including Spain, Portugal, USA and the Netherlands.

Other leagues, such as those in France and Germany, will play behind closed doors.