The Premier League is continuing with plans to resume the 2019/20 season in June despite mounting health concerns from players, while clubs have been told that all matches would be held at “neutral” stadiums.
A teleconference call with executives from all 20 top flight clubs discussed the detail behind Project Restart, including coronavirus testing for players and staff twice a week.
After a three-and-a-half hour discussion, the league is proceeding with plans to complete the season despite others in Europe, including France, Belgium and the Netherlands already calling off professional football until at least late summer.
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Under the UK proposals, and in addition to the tests, players would be advised to wear masks or snoods at all times when training and playing, and staff wearing personal protective equipment would disinfect equipment at training grounds, such as corner flags and GPS trackers.
All tests and protective wear would be privately sourced, but figures within the game have raised questions about whether vital supplies would be diverted away from those who need it most.
Former Manchester United and England player Gary Neville says it is prizing economics over health.
“If you’re a football fan with a relative who died in hospital and you couldn’t visit, you weren’t allowed to go to their funeral and football players are getting tested but you couldn’t get a test, would they accept it?
“Would we accept it? Would we think it’s right? I’m sure we wouldn’t,” he said.
Some clubs had expressed concerns about playing at neutral venues instead of their home stadiums but it was impressed upon them that this is the only viable option in order to complete the season. There are understood to be eight to 10 potential venues under consideration, pending police approval.
There has been no Premier League football since Leicester beat Aston Villa on 9 March, three days before it was announced that Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta had tested positive for COVID-19, effectively forcing the postponement of that weekend’s round of fixtures.
Sky News
