This is how Brighton could lose £30m as FA chief admits Albion's season may not be completed

The outbreak of Covid-19 has seen the Premier League and EFL suspend the campaign indefinitely and there is uncertainty if or when it will return.

Brighton's last fixture in the Premier League was their 0-0 draw at Wolves on March 7. The Albion first team squad had been training from their homes using group fitness apps but that has now stopped for the time being and players are currently on fully-paid leave until May 1.

Brighton not completing their season could cost them close to £30m, according to figures published in the Daily Mail. That's if television companies demand immediate refunds for potential unfulfilled fixtures.

Albion could lose £23.9 million in TV revenue, £3.8 million from matchday income and a further £2 million from commercial and retail. The three highest earning non-playing staff members Paul Barber, Dan Ashworth and Graham Potter all agreed to pay cuts.

Some players have made charitable donations but as yet the first team squad remain on full-pay.

Clarke, who was made chairman of the FA in September 2016 and is also the vice-president of Fifa, also alluded to the financial impact of the pandemic with clubs across the country placing staff on furlough.

Today, League One outfit Sunderland and League Two's Crewe Alexandra both announced they have furloughed players because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a speech to the FA Council, he said: “Football faces economic challenges beyond the wildest imagination of those who run it.

“We face the danger of losing clubs and leagues as finances collapse. Many communities could lose the clubs at their heart with little chance of resurrection.

“In the face of this unprecedented adversity, all the stakeholders within the game from players, fans, clubs, owners and administrators need to step up and share the pain to keep the game alive.

“Everyone should understand that the Premier League clubs are not immune from the impact of this and whilst they are impacted to different degrees depending on their cost base, the potential overall financial impact is huge.

“We must have a plan to ensure that English football is not decimated should this season be lost and next season blighted. We hope we do not need this plan as we are all determined to finish the professional football season, however we would be fools not to develop such a contingency plan.

"Those that lost their clubs because English football did not rise to the challenge would rightly judge us harshly.

“Time is pressing as football burns through its cash reserves with no sign yet of a resumption of the game.

“We are committed to finishing the professional football season as this resolves the issues of promotion and relegation together with title winners on merit.

“However, we may not be able to finish the season as football is not our priority, human life is, and we will do as the Government directs as the pandemic unfolds.”

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