Premier League clubs face having to pay a huge refund to broadcasters even if they manage to complete the coronavirus-disrupted season behind closed doors.

Broadcasters would be reimbursed for matches not being played as scheduled and the lack of atmosphere in empty stadiums is also a factor.

The BBC reported that the bill facing the English top-flight, which is still discussing ‘Project Restart’, could be as high as £340 million.

“We were able to update our clubs today (Monday) on our situation with broadcasters, which is obviously confidential,” said Premier League CEO Richard Masters. “Whatever happens, there’s going to be significant loss of revenue for clubs. That is inevitable.

“We were able to paint a picture about what would happen in various scenarios, playing out the season and not playing out... to allow them to have a picture of that as we stand in the early part of May.”

The rebate to broadcasters would surge to an estimated £760 million if the season cannot be completed. Masters had warned of a £1 billion loss once the absence of gate receipts is taken into account.

England internationals Raheem Sterling and Danny Rose are the two latest high-profile players to raise their concerns over a return to contact sport when the rest of society is being advised to follow social-distancing guidelines.

“The moment we do go back it just needs to be a moment where it’s not just for footballing reasons, it’s safe for not just us footballers but the whole medical staff, referees,” Sterling said.

“The government’s saying ‘bring football back because it’s going to boost the nation’s morale’,” Rose, 29, said in an Instagram live video, adding he did not care about the country’s morale more than his own health.

The Professional Footballers Association’s deputy chief Bobby Barnes said black players were concerned about the restart after a British government study said black people are nearly twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than whites.

“I think I’m getting tested on Friday, so we’ll just have to wait and see,” said Rose, who’s on loan from Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season.

“I’m sad that people are getting sick and being affected. Football should be the last of things that need to be sorted.”