CONTRACTS due to expire at the end of June should be extended until the football season actually finishes, FIFA has recommended.

The sport's global governing body has also approved for the summer transfer window dates be moved.

With football suspended indefinitely due to coronavirus, there are no guarantees when the 2019/20 campaign will be completed.

It throws up a variety of problems, particularly with players whose deals expire on June 30.

The group at Oxford United features skipper John Mousinho, Jamie Mackie and George Thorne, while they also have five players on loan, including top scorer Matty Taylor.

Also read: Josh Ruffels - My Oxford United career is down to one phone call

That raised the concern Karl Robinson's side could suddenly lose key players for the final few games of the Sky Bet League One run-in, but that now looks unlikely.

FIFA have been consulting with clubs, players, leagues, national associations and confederations to work on guidelines to address practical issues brought about by the coronavirus crisis.

The Bureau of the FIFA Council endorsed a set of principles unanimously agreed upon by the task force on Tuesday, with contracts and transfer windows key topics.

On the matter of contracts expiring this summer, their statement read: "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. Therefore, it is proposed that contracts be extended until such time that the season does actually end.

"This should be in line with the original intention of the parties when the contract was signed and should also preserve sporting integrity and stability."

Also read: 'Clubs could be lost' – FA chief delivers stark warning

Transfer windows are also changing this summer, with FIFA saying "it is necessary to adjust the normal regulatory position to the new factual circumstances" when it comes to player movement.

The statement went on: "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.

"At the same time, 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."