The Bermuda Football Association will hold a special congress meeting next Wednesday when it is expected that the plug finally may be pulled on the 2019-20 season — a decision that could and should have been made at least a month earlier.

Undeterred by the determination of the Bermuda Government that spectator sport was not possible in any of the four phases of the reopening that was first announced on April 29 — casting a cloud, even, over the entire cricket season — the BFA had bizarrely held out hope that football could resume by last Sunday, a mere 18 days later, to have the season completed by May 31.

Football had shown form for ignoring protocol when nine Premier Division and First Division league matches were staged on the weekend of March 14 and 15, less than 48 hours after David Burt, the Premier, addressed the nation, as efforts were being ramped up to combat the onset of Covid-19, and strongly advised against gatherings of 50 or more.

But now, after shelter-in-place, a four-week lockdown and only hours before the start of Phase 2 — which is expected to last at least two weeks — the clubs will be asked to accept the inevitable.

Unless objectors with self-serving motives wish to drag a season that began last August into the summer months.

“The BFA executive council has drafted plans to conclude the 2019-20 season in the event that we would be unable to play the remainder of the scheduled matches,” was all that Mark Wade, the BFA president, would reveal in a statement.

Apart from the FA Cup Final between Premier Division champions North Village Rams and Robin Hood, there remains the matter of relegation from the top flight as well as First Division champions to be determined.

Boulevard Blazers have been relegated already and Somerset Eagles are in the other relegation spot, but can overhaul Southampton Rangers, X-Roads Warriors or Devonshire Cougars to escape the drop if they beat Robin Hood in their final match and other results go in their favour.

In the First Division, Devonshire Colts and St George’s Colts have been promoted, but the former hold a three-point lead, having completed their fixture list before the lockdown.

The East End side face Vasco needing to win by six goals to claim the title. Devonshire Colts not only boast a five-goal lead in goal difference but have scored more goals and would lift the trophy if St George’s merely replicated their 5-0 win against the Portuguese club in their first meeting.

PREMIER DIVISION

P W D L F A Pts

North Village (C) 17 12 3 2 39 15 39

Dandy Town 17 10 4 3 40 25 34

Robin Hood 17 8 7 2 43 16 31

PHC Zebras 17 10 0 7 40 31 30

Somerset Trojans 17 6 4 7 25 35 22

Devonshire Cougars 17 6 2 9 24 33 20

X-Roads 17 5 4 8 38 38 19

*Southampton 17 6 2 9 22 23 19

Somerset Eagles 17 4 6 7 23 32 18

Boulevard (R) 17 1 2 14 10 53 5

* Deducted 1 point for fielding ineligible player

Remaining fixtures

Boulevard v Somerset Trojans

PHC v North Village

Dandy Town v Southampton

Devonshire Cougars v X-Roads Warriors

Somerset Eagles v Robin Hood

FIRST DIVISION

P W D L F A Pts

Dev Colts (P) 16 12 2 2 56 17 38

St George’s (P) 15 12 1 2 42 8 37

Vasco 15 8 3 4 33 32 27

Flanagan’s 15 8 1 6 28 18 25

Wolves 15 7 4 4 30 27 25

St David’s 15 5 5 6 17 22 19

YMSC 15 3 1 11 15 34 10

*Hamilton Parish 15 3 1 11 13 36 9

Ireland Rangers 15 1 1 13 11 49 4

* Deducted 1 point for fielding ineligible player

Remaining fixtures

St David’s v Hamilton Parish

St George’s v Vasco

Wolves v Flanagan’s Onions

Ireland Rangers v Young Men’s Social Club

UPDATE: this article has been amended to clarify that X-Roads Warriors are the other team apart from Somerset Eagles, Southampton Rangers and Devonshire Cougars who could be relegated alongside Boulevard Blazers; not Somerset Trojans