FIFA have paved the way for the current season to be played to a finish this summer by agreeing to push the transfer window back and allow contracts ending on June 30 to be extended.

The SPFL board will hold talks over the implications of the coronavirus crisis and the ongoing suspension of football tomorrow and will then discuss their findings with all 42 member clubs.

The prospect of the current Ladbrokes Premiership placings standing and Celtic, who are 13 points clear at the top, being declared champions and Hearts, who are four points adrift at the bottom, getting relegated has divided opinion in the Scottish game.

Hearts owner Ann Budge has indicated she will take legal action against the SPFL if the Tynecastle club, who have eight games still to play, are consigned to the Championship by a vote.

The possibility of expanding the Premiership to include 14 clubs, so that Hearts can stay up and runaway Championship leaders Dundee United are promoted, has been mooted.

But both UEFA and FIFA are keen for league and cup campaigns to be completed on the field of play when the shutdown has been lifted - and world football’s governing body has taken action to facilitate that happening.

A task force led by FIFA vice-president Vittorio Montagliani has ruled that contract end dates can be moved back and the summer transfer window can now fall between the end of this season and the start of the 2020/21 campaign.

"With the current suspension of play in most countries, it is now obvious that the current season will not end when people thought it would,” a statement read.

"Therefore, it is proposed that contracts be extended until such time that the season does actually end.

"A similar principle applies to contracts due to begin when the new season starts, meaning the entry into force of such contracts is delayed until the next season actually does start."

The statement continued: "With regard to transfer windows, again, it is necessary to adjust the normal regulatory position to the new factual circumstances.

"Accordingly, FIFA will be flexible and will allow the relevant transfer windows to be moved so they fall between the end of the old season and the start of the new season.

"FIFA will try to ensure, where possible, an overall level of coordination and will also bear in mind the need to protect the regularity, integrity and proper functioning of competitions, so that the sporting results of any competition are not unfairly disrupted."