Sporting Life
The Premier League season has been suspended indefinitely
The Premier League season has been suspended indefinitely

Premier League return: No decisions taken on Project Restart plans in meeting between all 20 clubs

By Sporting Life
Football
Fri May 01, 2020 · 5y ago

Premier League clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019-20 season amid the coronavirus pandemic at a shareholders' meeting on Friday.

Top-flight sides were briefed on the league's 'Project Restart' plans, with the professional game in England having been suspended since March 13.

The league stressed that any return to training and match action would only happen if the Government gave the go-ahead.

A statement read: "The league and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers.

"The league welcomed the creation of the Government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning.

"No decisions were taken at today's shareholders' meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding Project Restart. It was agreed that the PFA, LMA, players and managers are key to this process and will be further consulted.

Liverpool were closing in on the Premier League title

"The clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019/20 season, maintaining integrity of the competition and welcomed the Government's support."

Waters are still muddied wherever sport and coronavirus are concerned, with even UEFA and FIFA's medical people in disagreement about whether seasons could and should be completed.

France have ended their season and declared PSG champions, the Netherland have ended their season and decided against splitting Ajax and AZ Alkmaar who were level on points at the top - awarding no title this season.

The Premier League, for multiple reasons, want to try and complete the season and that is their first priority. They have a May 25 deadline to submit their plans to UEFA.

Neutral venues required for remaining games

Premier League clubs have been told the remaining matches of the 2019-20 season must be played at neutral venues.

The clubs were presented with the league's 'Project Restart' plans at a meeting on Friday, and while a statement was issued reconfirming the clubs' commitment to finishing the season, it is understood there is no possibility that it can now finish on a home-and-away basis for safety reasons.

The restart plans were understood to have been well received, but there remains opposition on competition and integrity grounds about the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues.

Clubs are expected to vote on the key principles of 'Project Restart' some time after May 7, when the Government must review the current UK lockdown.

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber said on Thursday that the idea of not playing matches home and away was a "further imperfection" on top of games being behind closed doors.

The UK national football policing lead, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts of South Yorkshire Police, told the PA news agency on Wednesday that playing all matches in the Premier League and EFL at their original venues would "present challenges" for the emergency services at a time when they are already stretched.

Project Restart plans

  • Proposed June 8 start
  • Players to be tested twice a week for Covid-19
  • Training grounds to operate social distancing policy
  • Players to arrive at training in kit, wear masks & not eat or shower on the premises
  • All equipment being used, including football, corner flags and goalposts to be disinfected before and after use by staff wearing personal protective equipment.
  • Players to wear masks or facial covering such as snoods at all times
  • Training in small groups only with their own time slots for arrival and warm-up
  • Cars parked a safe distance apart
  • A ban on spitting by players and staff

Aguero's player safety concern

While clubs are planning the logistics of returning to action, it is the players, though, who will be the ones in most danger and Man City striker Sergio Aguero has voiced the concerns of the "majority" of players about getting back on the pitch.

He and his team-mates will be nervous about returning to training and games when the virus is still around.

"The majority of players are scared because they have children and families," Aguero told Argentinian TV station El Chiringuito.

"I'm scared but I'm with my girlfriend here and I'm not going to be in contact with other people. I'm locked in my house and the only person I could infect is my girlfriend.

"They're saying that there are people that have it and don't have any symptoms but still infect you. That's why I am here at home. Maybe I have the illness and I don't even know."

"When one person is ill we will think 'oh what's happening here?' I hope a vaccine will be found soon so that this all ends."

Murray slams farcical masks

The face masks part of the plan has already been rubbished by Brighton striker Glenn Murray, who called them farcical.

"Face masks is going to be off-putting; it is not going to be natural. People will be ripping them off in games," said Murray. "It is quite farcical.

"I understand the public is desperate to get football back. But it is us that are going to be going out there and competing against other teams.

Keisuke Honda of Botafogo wearing a mask for a game

"It has to be done in a sensible way and in the right time and in a way that is going to keep everyone safe. There will be ambulances at training and games. Is it fair to take those from the NHS? I don’t know.

"It is not just two squads, there is a lot more involved and it puts more people at risk."

"Everyone is in different situations. I have children at home. I wouldn’t want to jeopardise them. Some footballers have newly born children who might be more susceptible to getting the disease.

"Some are living with elderly parents. It is a really difficult situation to agree on."

How does the return of football stand around Europe?

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