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Is the situation safe enough for a conclusion to finish off the season in June?
-
Contact the PP Team
Should English Premier League restart its 2019/20 season in June 2020?
- Thread starter MenInG
- Start date
The Viper
T20I Debutant
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Although there is only 9-10 games left, I think there is still a huge risk. The virus hasn't completely disappeared, and what happens if a player, manager, or coach tests positive for the virus? The season should be called off.
Yossarian
Test Debutant
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- Post of the Week
- 1
Top Premier League players 'scared' of restarting the EPL too soon
Sergio Aguero: Players 'scared' about Premier League return
Players are "scared" about the prospect of returning to action amid the coronavirus pandemic, says Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.
The Premier League is hoping to resume the season on 8 June, which would require players to be be back in full training by 18 May.
Top-flight clubs will meet on Friday to discuss options for the restart.
"The majority of players are scared because they have children and families," said 31-year-old Aguero.
[...]
Aguero said he and his team-mates, will be "quite nervous and extra careful" when they return to work.
"When one person is ill we will think 'oh what's happening here?'" he added. "I hope a vaccine will be found soon so that this all ends."
[....]
'Farcical' face mask proposals
Brighton striker Glenn Murray says some proposed protocols around the Premier League's return to action, such as wearing face masks, are "farcical".
"Face masks is going to be off-putting; it is not going to be natural. People will be ripping them off in games," the 36-year-old said. "It is quite farcical.
"I understand why people are desperate to get football on. 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."
Arsenal, Brighton and West Ham have opened their training grounds to players for individual work.
"I understand the public is desperate to get football back," said Murray. "But it is us that are going to be going out there and competing against other teams.
"We are not talking about guys in one community. We are talking about guys from all over the world who could be possibly carrying the disease. There are so many caveats.
"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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52493894
Sergio Aguero: Players 'scared' about Premier League return
Players are "scared" about the prospect of returning to action amid the coronavirus pandemic, says Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.
The Premier League is hoping to resume the season on 8 June, which would require players to be be back in full training by 18 May.
Top-flight clubs will meet on Friday to discuss options for the restart.
"The majority of players are scared because they have children and families," said 31-year-old Aguero.
[...]
Aguero said he and his team-mates, will be "quite nervous and extra careful" when they return to work.
"When one person is ill we will think 'oh what's happening here?'" he added. "I hope a vaccine will be found soon so that this all ends."
[....]
'Farcical' face mask proposals
Brighton striker Glenn Murray says some proposed protocols around the Premier League's return to action, such as wearing face masks, are "farcical".
"Face masks is going to be off-putting; it is not going to be natural. People will be ripping them off in games," the 36-year-old said. "It is quite farcical.
"I understand why people are desperate to get football on. 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."
Arsenal, Brighton and West Ham have opened their training grounds to players for individual work.
"I understand the public is desperate to get football back," said Murray. "But it is us that are going to be going out there and competing against other teams.
"We are not talking about guys in one community. We are talking about guys from all over the world who could be possibly carrying the disease. There are so many caveats.
"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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52493894
PetroDollars
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We cant go to the mosque in ramadan or on eid because 50 people are to much to gather, so how do you expect a sports event to take place, plus stripping LP of a title after a 30 year wait would be sweet.
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Premier League clubs have discussed "the first tentative moves forward" in plans to resume the 2019-20 season.
Clubs reiterated a commitment to resuming the season "when safe and appropriate to do so" during a video conference on Friday.
The conference followed a separate meeting, hosted by culture secretary Oliver Dowden, involving medical experts from several sports organisations, government and Public Health England, about "stepping up planning" for sport's eventual return.
Representatives from football, rugby union, cricket, racing and funding body UK Sport were present.
Dowden introduced the meeting and said elite sport would return behind closed doors "when, and only when, it is safe to do so on the basis of expert medical advice".
BBC Sport understands that sports have accepted that the return to competition is going to be a "long, detailed process" and the discussions in Friday's conference were largely based on the resumption of training.
'No decisions taken' at Premier League meeting
The Premier League said in a statement it would "only return to training and playing with government guidance".
"No decisions were taken at today's meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding 'Project Restart'," the statement added.
"It was agreed that the Professional Footballers' Association, the League Managers' Association, players and managers are key to this process and will be further consulted.
"The clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019-20 season, maintaining integrity of the competition and welcomed the government's support."
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of coronavirus but all clubs remain committed to playing this season's 92 remaining fixtures.
All games are expected to be held behind closed doors and the league is considering making some available on free-to-air TV.
If training is resumed before social distancing rules are relaxed, BBC Sport understands players will be tested for coronavirus twice a week and would be screened for symptoms every day. All tests would be carried out by health professionals at a drive-through NHS testing facility that each club would have access to. Training grounds will be optimised for social distancing and high hygiene levels.
In addition:
Players must arrive at training grounds in kit and wear masks at all times.
They must not shower or eat on the premises. If clubs want to provide players with food, it must be delivered as a takeaway to players' cars.
Only essential medical treatment would be allowed, with all medical staff in full PPE.
All meetings and reviews must take place virtually and off-site.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52500593
Clubs reiterated a commitment to resuming the season "when safe and appropriate to do so" during a video conference on Friday.
The conference followed a separate meeting, hosted by culture secretary Oliver Dowden, involving medical experts from several sports organisations, government and Public Health England, about "stepping up planning" for sport's eventual return.
Representatives from football, rugby union, cricket, racing and funding body UK Sport were present.
Dowden introduced the meeting and said elite sport would return behind closed doors "when, and only when, it is safe to do so on the basis of expert medical advice".
BBC Sport understands that sports have accepted that the return to competition is going to be a "long, detailed process" and the discussions in Friday's conference were largely based on the resumption of training.
'No decisions taken' at Premier League meeting
The Premier League said in a statement it would "only return to training and playing with government guidance".
"No decisions were taken at today's meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding 'Project Restart'," the statement added.
"It was agreed that the Professional Footballers' Association, the League Managers' Association, players and managers are key to this process and will be further consulted.
"The clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019-20 season, maintaining integrity of the competition and welcomed the government's support."
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of coronavirus but all clubs remain committed to playing this season's 92 remaining fixtures.
All games are expected to be held behind closed doors and the league is considering making some available on free-to-air TV.
If training is resumed before social distancing rules are relaxed, BBC Sport understands players will be tested for coronavirus twice a week and would be screened for symptoms every day. All tests would be carried out by health professionals at a drive-through NHS testing facility that each club would have access to. Training grounds will be optimised for social distancing and high hygiene levels.
In addition:
Players must arrive at training grounds in kit and wear masks at all times.
They must not shower or eat on the premises. If clubs want to provide players with food, it must be delivered as a takeaway to players' cars.
Only essential medical treatment would be allowed, with all medical staff in full PPE.
All meetings and reviews must take place virtually and off-site.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52500593
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
Premier League clubs remain committed to finishing the 2019/20 season, but this will only be possible if 8-10 neutral venues are used to play the remaining fixtures.
That is considered the most appropriate number of venues that will be granted safety certificates (Sports Grounds Safety Authority) and police approval.
The 'Project Restart' document was top of the agenda in the latest conference call on Friday, which all 20 clubs attended.
Under discussion was the resumption of behind-closed-doors matches in 'approved' stadiums or neutral venues, how players can return to full training, and what will need to happen inside each training ground in order for football to return.
June 12 was discussed as a potential return date but clubs will wait for the government to determine what happens next.
A Premier League statement read: "At a meeting of Premier League Shareholders today, clubs discussed possible steps towards planning to resume the 2019/20 season, when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
As 'Project Restart' builds momentum, one manufacturer reveals that up to seven Premier League clubs have already put orders in for their masks.
"It was reiterated that the thoughts of all are with those directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the Premier League's priority is the health and safety of players, coaches, managers, club staff, supporters and the wider community.
"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.
"The clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019/20 season, maintaining integrity of the competition and welcomed the Government's support."
Proposals in the 'Project Restart' document have been drafted by Premier League director of football Richard Garlick but a return to training will only happen with the agreement of the government.
Plans also include testing all players and officials 48 hours before returning to training and they will also be tested for potential respiratory problems associated with coronavirus.
Rules such as banning spitting at training grounds and wearing mouth-protective clothing like snood/masks at all times are also being considered.
Medical representatives from a range of different UK sports have met with the DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) on Friday as the government ramps up plans for a return to sport.
Premier League clubs have remained committed to finishing the season since the competition was suspended on March 13.
Once again they stressed the importance of maintaining the "integrity" during a conference call that lasted around three-and-a-half hours.
In other words, curtailing this season remains off the table and there was no mention of 'null and void' during this latest meeting.
The Premier League explained to its clubs that any return will only be at neutral venues - it is not an option to play at every one of their 20 grounds.
A 'home' game is now considered unrealistic and will not happen. We have yet to receive information on specific neutral venues.
All 20 clubs spoke on the call - different clubs are in different situations and some of their concerns were discussed.
'Project Restart' has been 'well received', according to someone with knowledge of the talks, but it is not a final document and it is still being adapted to an ever-changing landscape.
Clubs know they need the full support of players, in particular, and they have agreed to hold further talks with players and managers.
Without their "key" support, it will be almost impossible to achieve any resumption of the domestic season.
The language of their latest statement is cautious as everybody considers the "first tentative moves forward".
Nobody wants to be seen to moving too quickly, and there has been a constant reminder that football will only return when it is "safe and appropriate" to do so.
Clubs will meet again next Thursday, May 7, on the same day that the government is expected to publish its next steps in this lockdown.
By the end of next week, we should be a lot clearer whether the Premier League can indeed finish the remaining 92 games of this season.
UEFA has asked for details by May 25 and clubs have reiterated that their thoughts are with those directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Gary Neville has suggested the idea of taking the Premier League abroad to a coronavirus-free quarantined environment to finish the season, as the UK environment isn't safe enough.
Neville is beginning to wonder whether the environment in the UK, where 26,771 people have died due to the virus according to Thursday's official figures, is safe enough to house competitive football, even behind closed doors.
He has suggested an alternative plan involving taking the final games to a country with sterile coronavirus conditions.
He said on The Football Show: "If the Premier League are really serious about delivering the matches that remain in a safe environment they would move it to the two or three spots that are within three or four hours of this country that are coronavirus free.
"They would take the Premier League players, broadcasters and media over, quarantine for a week or two and then deliver it in an environment that has proven it can handle this virus. There are a couple of hotspots in Europe that haven't got coronavirus which could handle the Premier League finishing.
"If they were serious about it and wanted to deliver it with a safe outcome, they could do that. In this country I'm not sure they can deliver it with the amount of coronavirus which is around, especially with the amount of movement of it out there and the logistic issues. I'm not sure they can deliver what they want to do."
Brighton's French forward Neal Maupay says clubs in his homeland need to accept this week's decision to end league competitions early.
With football suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, what is the current situation around Europe's top leagues?
England - Premier League: The Premier League held further talks on Friday and reiterated its commitment to finish the 2019/20 season, but has not announced a date for clubs to return to training and said they will only do so under government guidance.
England - EFL: The English Football League (EFL) has warned football cannot resume before adequate testing arrangements are in place for coronavirus.
England - Non-League: National League clubs have voted in favour of ending the 2019/20 at its current point and cancelling all remaining fixtures.
Scotland - Premiership: Clubs will meet on May 1 to discuss resumption plans, as well as potential league reconstruction.
France - Ligue 1: PSG have been crowned champions after it was announced on April 30 that the season was over - but Lyon have raised the possibility of claiming damages after missing out on European qualification.
Italy - Serie A: Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced professional sports teams can resume training on May 18.
Spain - La Liga: Health minister Salvador Illa says professional football in Spain is not likely to return before the summer
https://www.skysports.com/football/...ues-clubs-still-committed-to-finishing-season
That is considered the most appropriate number of venues that will be granted safety certificates (Sports Grounds Safety Authority) and police approval.
The 'Project Restart' document was top of the agenda in the latest conference call on Friday, which all 20 clubs attended.
Under discussion was the resumption of behind-closed-doors matches in 'approved' stadiums or neutral venues, how players can return to full training, and what will need to happen inside each training ground in order for football to return.
June 12 was discussed as a potential return date but clubs will wait for the government to determine what happens next.
A Premier League statement read: "At a meeting of Premier League Shareholders today, clubs discussed possible steps towards planning to resume the 2019/20 season, when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
As 'Project Restart' builds momentum, one manufacturer reveals that up to seven Premier League clubs have already put orders in for their masks.
"It was reiterated that the thoughts of all are with those directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the Premier League's priority is the health and safety of players, coaches, managers, club staff, supporters and the wider community.
"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.
"The clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019/20 season, maintaining integrity of the competition and welcomed the Government's support."
Proposals in the 'Project Restart' document have been drafted by Premier League director of football Richard Garlick but a return to training will only happen with the agreement of the government.
Plans also include testing all players and officials 48 hours before returning to training and they will also be tested for potential respiratory problems associated with coronavirus.
Rules such as banning spitting at training grounds and wearing mouth-protective clothing like snood/masks at all times are also being considered.
Medical representatives from a range of different UK sports have met with the DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) on Friday as the government ramps up plans for a return to sport.
Premier League clubs have remained committed to finishing the season since the competition was suspended on March 13.
Once again they stressed the importance of maintaining the "integrity" during a conference call that lasted around three-and-a-half hours.
In other words, curtailing this season remains off the table and there was no mention of 'null and void' during this latest meeting.
The Premier League explained to its clubs that any return will only be at neutral venues - it is not an option to play at every one of their 20 grounds.
A 'home' game is now considered unrealistic and will not happen. We have yet to receive information on specific neutral venues.
All 20 clubs spoke on the call - different clubs are in different situations and some of their concerns were discussed.
'Project Restart' has been 'well received', according to someone with knowledge of the talks, but it is not a final document and it is still being adapted to an ever-changing landscape.
Clubs know they need the full support of players, in particular, and they have agreed to hold further talks with players and managers.
Without their "key" support, it will be almost impossible to achieve any resumption of the domestic season.
The language of their latest statement is cautious as everybody considers the "first tentative moves forward".
Nobody wants to be seen to moving too quickly, and there has been a constant reminder that football will only return when it is "safe and appropriate" to do so.
Clubs will meet again next Thursday, May 7, on the same day that the government is expected to publish its next steps in this lockdown.
By the end of next week, we should be a lot clearer whether the Premier League can indeed finish the remaining 92 games of this season.
UEFA has asked for details by May 25 and clubs have reiterated that their thoughts are with those directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Gary Neville has suggested the idea of taking the Premier League abroad to a coronavirus-free quarantined environment to finish the season, as the UK environment isn't safe enough.
Neville is beginning to wonder whether the environment in the UK, where 26,771 people have died due to the virus according to Thursday's official figures, is safe enough to house competitive football, even behind closed doors.
He has suggested an alternative plan involving taking the final games to a country with sterile coronavirus conditions.
He said on The Football Show: "If the Premier League are really serious about delivering the matches that remain in a safe environment they would move it to the two or three spots that are within three or four hours of this country that are coronavirus free.
"They would take the Premier League players, broadcasters and media over, quarantine for a week or two and then deliver it in an environment that has proven it can handle this virus. There are a couple of hotspots in Europe that haven't got coronavirus which could handle the Premier League finishing.
"If they were serious about it and wanted to deliver it with a safe outcome, they could do that. In this country I'm not sure they can deliver it with the amount of coronavirus which is around, especially with the amount of movement of it out there and the logistic issues. I'm not sure they can deliver what they want to do."
Brighton's French forward Neal Maupay says clubs in his homeland need to accept this week's decision to end league competitions early.
With football suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, what is the current situation around Europe's top leagues?
England - Premier League: The Premier League held further talks on Friday and reiterated its commitment to finish the 2019/20 season, but has not announced a date for clubs to return to training and said they will only do so under government guidance.
England - EFL: The English Football League (EFL) has warned football cannot resume before adequate testing arrangements are in place for coronavirus.
England - Non-League: National League clubs have voted in favour of ending the 2019/20 at its current point and cancelling all remaining fixtures.
Scotland - Premiership: Clubs will meet on May 1 to discuss resumption plans, as well as potential league reconstruction.
France - Ligue 1: PSG have been crowned champions after it was announced on April 30 that the season was over - but Lyon have raised the possibility of claiming damages after missing out on European qualification.
Italy - Serie A: Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced professional sports teams can resume training on May 18.
Spain - La Liga: Health minister Salvador Illa says professional football in Spain is not likely to return before the summer
https://www.skysports.com/football/...ues-clubs-still-committed-to-finishing-season
- Joined
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- 217,993
It is understood that whilst West Ham are in favour of finishing the season, they are against playing the remaining Premier League games at neutral venues as they feel it would compromise the integrity of the competition.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
After holding a conference call with all clubs on Friday, the Premier League hopes team training sessions can resume within weeks but with games held off until at least early June
BoomBoomCricket
First Class Captain
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2009
- Runs
- 5,834
- Post of the Week
- 2
Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says England's Premier League football should return if an “ingenious way” can be found to make it safe.
Representatives from Football, Cricket and Rugby are meeting the government today to discuss strategies to restart sport.
A June resumption has been mooted by the Premier League, which was suspended on 13 March.
“It can and it should (restart),” Hunt told the BBC.
“It’s a question of whether we can find an ingenious way of doing it behind closed doors that does not risk the safety of the players or the public.”
While current health secretary Matt Hancock says he is “open” to the idea, PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said players were “not stupid” and will “put safety first” when presented with proposals next week.
Taylor added that halves of less than 45 minutes are among measures being considered to restart football.
Representatives from Football, Cricket and Rugby are meeting the government today to discuss strategies to restart sport.
A June resumption has been mooted by the Premier League, which was suspended on 13 March.
“It can and it should (restart),” Hunt told the BBC.
“It’s a question of whether we can find an ingenious way of doing it behind closed doors that does not risk the safety of the players or the public.”
While current health secretary Matt Hancock says he is “open” to the idea, PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said players were “not stupid” and will “put safety first” when presented with proposals next week.
Taylor added that halves of less than 45 minutes are among measures being considered to restart football.
Last edited by a moderator:
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- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
The 2019-20 Premier League season could be cancelled if clubs do not agree to play in neutral venues, says League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan.
A vote is due to take place on Monday on proposals for a return to football.
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Bevan says "time isn't on our side and training needs to be in place very soon" for a return by 12 June.
All 20 clubs are committed to playing the 92 remaining fixtures of the 2019-20 season if and when it is safe to do so.
However, Brighton have said they are "not in favour" of using neutral venues because it may affect the "integrity" of the league.
The neutral stadium proposal needs 14 out of the 20 clubs to vote in favour for it to be adopted.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to update the UK's position on lockdown and the plan for easing measures on Sunday.
Asked if a vote against neutral venues would lead to the season's cancellation, Bevan told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Yes, I think that probably is correct."
He added: "The government, if they haven't already, will be making it clear that home matches with densely populated stadia, really puts into question whether social distancing rules can be adhered to."
'Hard to see fans returning to football any time soon'
Sport's £700m black hole - the key questions
What are the plans for a return?
The Premier League's plans - dubbed Project Restart - involve a return to action in June in order to complete the season at the end of July to fit in with Uefa's European competition plans.
This would require full training to begin by 18 May.
The league would also need up to 40,000 tests for players and staff if plans to play the outstanding games behind closed doors are pursued.
On Friday, after their most recent meeting by video conference, Premier League clubs reiterated a commitment to resuming the season "when safe and appropriate to do so".
Who has concerns about a restart?
A number of Premier League club doctors have raised a range of concerns with league bosses over plans to resume the season.
One issue that the senior medics have sought assurances over includes their own liability and insurance cover if players contract the virus.
The 20 club doctors have been holding their own discussions about Project Restart with a view to feeding their thoughts over medical protocols, testing and player welfare.
"The medical and operational protocols are going to be presented to the managers on calls, and indeed the players," Bevan added.
"Hopefully, there will be solutions that create this safe environment.
"Football must not occupy any NHS resources, it must not impinge on the capacity of the health and emergency services. But it covers testing, tracking, PPE available, clear guidelines on social distancing, and obviously a safe environment to train and play.
"There will be guidance on cardiology, mental and emotional well-being. And I think the message really is that health is a guiding principle to any decision-making."
What about safety concerns among players?
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has spoken out to say players are "scared" about returning to action amid the coronavirus outbreak.
On returning to training, players will be tested for the virus twice a week and would be screened for symptoms every day.
There will also be extra precautions for players at training, including wearing protective equipment and not showering or eating on premises.
Bevan says no players would be forced into playing when it is not safe to do so.
"I think as long as we have maximum information and good protocol documents, players will make their own decisions and same for managers. And they'll be looking at best practice," he added.
"If we do get that information clearly and well-presented and governments are clear as well, there'll be some good decision-making - from a manager perspective. I don't think that would be coercing players at all."
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52558225
A vote is due to take place on Monday on proposals for a return to football.
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Bevan says "time isn't on our side and training needs to be in place very soon" for a return by 12 June.
All 20 clubs are committed to playing the 92 remaining fixtures of the 2019-20 season if and when it is safe to do so.
However, Brighton have said they are "not in favour" of using neutral venues because it may affect the "integrity" of the league.
The neutral stadium proposal needs 14 out of the 20 clubs to vote in favour for it to be adopted.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to update the UK's position on lockdown and the plan for easing measures on Sunday.
Asked if a vote against neutral venues would lead to the season's cancellation, Bevan told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Yes, I think that probably is correct."
He added: "The government, if they haven't already, will be making it clear that home matches with densely populated stadia, really puts into question whether social distancing rules can be adhered to."
'Hard to see fans returning to football any time soon'
Sport's £700m black hole - the key questions
What are the plans for a return?
The Premier League's plans - dubbed Project Restart - involve a return to action in June in order to complete the season at the end of July to fit in with Uefa's European competition plans.
This would require full training to begin by 18 May.
The league would also need up to 40,000 tests for players and staff if plans to play the outstanding games behind closed doors are pursued.
On Friday, after their most recent meeting by video conference, Premier League clubs reiterated a commitment to resuming the season "when safe and appropriate to do so".
Who has concerns about a restart?
A number of Premier League club doctors have raised a range of concerns with league bosses over plans to resume the season.
One issue that the senior medics have sought assurances over includes their own liability and insurance cover if players contract the virus.
The 20 club doctors have been holding their own discussions about Project Restart with a view to feeding their thoughts over medical protocols, testing and player welfare.
"The medical and operational protocols are going to be presented to the managers on calls, and indeed the players," Bevan added.
"Hopefully, there will be solutions that create this safe environment.
"Football must not occupy any NHS resources, it must not impinge on the capacity of the health and emergency services. But it covers testing, tracking, PPE available, clear guidelines on social distancing, and obviously a safe environment to train and play.
"There will be guidance on cardiology, mental and emotional well-being. And I think the message really is that health is a guiding principle to any decision-making."
What about safety concerns among players?
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has spoken out to say players are "scared" about returning to action amid the coronavirus outbreak.
On returning to training, players will be tested for the virus twice a week and would be screened for symptoms every day.
There will also be extra precautions for players at training, including wearing protective equipment and not showering or eating on premises.
Bevan says no players would be forced into playing when it is not safe to do so.
"I think as long as we have maximum information and good protocol documents, players will make their own decisions and same for managers. And they'll be looking at best practice," he added.
"If we do get that information clearly and well-presented and governments are clear as well, there'll be some good decision-making - from a manager perspective. I don't think that would be coercing players at all."
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52558225
The Viper
T20I Debutant
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- Sep 19, 2018
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- 6,865
Its all contingent on the Governments measures and what Boris decides on Sunday.
KingKhanWC
World Star
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Boris will be for it, the more people watching football drunk, the less scrutiny on the shambolic government.
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- 217,993
(Reuters) - Premier League clubs opposed to the idea of playing their remaining matches at neutral venues once the competition restarts must realise people’s lives are at stake and football concerns should take a back seat, British police have said.
Mark Roberts, the national lead for football policing, told Sky he was concerned about some of the comments he had heard regarding the conditions for restarting the league, which was suspended in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussions are continuing about resuming games after clubs were told only neutral venues approved from a health and safety point of view will be allowed.
Brighton & Hove Albion chief executive Paul Barber said his team were opposed to surrendering home advantage and Christian Purslow, his counterpart at Aston Villa, said relegation would be a 200 million pounds catastrophe.
“The things that are starting to concern me a little as we get closer to a potential restart are comments we’re hearing on the margins by people involved in football,” Deputy Chief Constable Roberts said.
“... Comments such as ‘we might get relegated’, ‘we don’t want to play at neutral venues,’ ‘when we played them away there were fans in the stadium’, ‘we play at home without fans that’s a disadvantage’, ‘we want to get the trophy’.
“I get this in a football context that these are all a big deal. But in the context where 30,000 people have died (in the UK) and the total is still going up, then it’s not such a big deal.
“We want to work with football... get the season back going for the commercial reasons, for the morale reasons ... but we have to remind ourselves that cannot be at the risk of putting a single further life in jeopardy,” Roberts said.
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...spective-on-neutral-venues-plan-idUKKBN22K0CP
Mark Roberts, the national lead for football policing, told Sky he was concerned about some of the comments he had heard regarding the conditions for restarting the league, which was suspended in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussions are continuing about resuming games after clubs were told only neutral venues approved from a health and safety point of view will be allowed.
Brighton & Hove Albion chief executive Paul Barber said his team were opposed to surrendering home advantage and Christian Purslow, his counterpart at Aston Villa, said relegation would be a 200 million pounds catastrophe.
“The things that are starting to concern me a little as we get closer to a potential restart are comments we’re hearing on the margins by people involved in football,” Deputy Chief Constable Roberts said.
“... Comments such as ‘we might get relegated’, ‘we don’t want to play at neutral venues,’ ‘when we played them away there were fans in the stadium’, ‘we play at home without fans that’s a disadvantage’, ‘we want to get the trophy’.
“I get this in a football context that these are all a big deal. But in the context where 30,000 people have died (in the UK) and the total is still going up, then it’s not such a big deal.
“We want to work with football... get the season back going for the commercial reasons, for the morale reasons ... but we have to remind ourselves that cannot be at the risk of putting a single further life in jeopardy,” Roberts said.
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...spective-on-neutral-venues-plan-idUKKBN22K0CP
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Could this work for PL?
==
Teams will be allowed to make five substitutions per match after the International Football Association Board (IFAB) made a temporary amendment to football's laws to cope with returning from the coronavirus-enforced break.
FIFA proposed the rule change to IFAB, which is responsible for the laws of the game, as players are likely to be asked to play matches in a condensed period of time during the summer months.
Teams will be limited to three opportunities during matches to make their substitutions - as well as half-time - in a bid to prevent unnecessary stoppages.
In competitions where extra-time could be enforced, any unused substitutions will be allowed to be carried over.
The rule change is immediate, but it is up to individual competitions whether they wish to adopt it. It could be in use in the Bundesliga, which is scheduled to resume behind closed doors on May 16.
IFAB says the amendment currently applies to competitions that are scheduled to finish before the end of the year, and a review will be conducted at a "later stage" over whether to carry the rule into next season.
In addition, IFAB has tweaked its rules around VAR to allow competitions that were using the technology to stop doing so, if and when they resume their seasons.
The Premier League will discuss the rule changes with its clubs, although it has received no indication that they wish to cease using VAR.
https://www.skysports.com/football/...-permitted-by-ifab-to-help-aid-players-return
==
Teams will be allowed to make five substitutions per match after the International Football Association Board (IFAB) made a temporary amendment to football's laws to cope with returning from the coronavirus-enforced break.
FIFA proposed the rule change to IFAB, which is responsible for the laws of the game, as players are likely to be asked to play matches in a condensed period of time during the summer months.
Teams will be limited to three opportunities during matches to make their substitutions - as well as half-time - in a bid to prevent unnecessary stoppages.
In competitions where extra-time could be enforced, any unused substitutions will be allowed to be carried over.
The rule change is immediate, but it is up to individual competitions whether they wish to adopt it. It could be in use in the Bundesliga, which is scheduled to resume behind closed doors on May 16.
IFAB says the amendment currently applies to competitions that are scheduled to finish before the end of the year, and a review will be conducted at a "later stage" over whether to carry the rule into next season.
In addition, IFAB has tweaked its rules around VAR to allow competitions that were using the technology to stop doing so, if and when they resume their seasons.
The Premier League will discuss the rule changes with its clubs, although it has received no indication that they wish to cease using VAR.
https://www.skysports.com/football/...-permitted-by-ifab-to-help-aid-players-return
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- Oct 2, 2004
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Watford have followed Brighton and Aston Villa in publicly opposing the use of neutral venues in the Premier League's proposed Project Restart plan.
Hornets chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury says it would compromise fairness and sporting integrity.
It is understood Premier League clubs are not planning to vote on whether to use neutral venues at a Monday meeting.
The vote looks likely to be held later in May and 14 of the 20 clubs must vote in favour for it to be adopted.
And while three have now made their opposition to the proposal known, it is understood others have similar feelings.
Before voting, league bosses are also awaiting government guidance on the criteria for bio-security at events and ground-safety licensing, which is expected later next week.
'No semblance of sporting integrity'
"I, of course, absolutely accept we cannot have supporters in the stadium," Duxbury wrote in The Times. "That goes without saying in the present situation.
"However, we are now told we cannot play our remaining home games at Vicarage Road and the familiarity and advantage that brings. This against a backdrop of players who, having seen their lives turned upside down along with the rest of the world, are suddenly expected to perform as if nothing has happened, despite the rest of society probably still facing the kind of restrictions unenforceable on a football pitch.
"We have club medical staff working under conditions that no doctor or physio has ever experienced with guidelines that, in no small part, are based at this stage on supposition rather than scientific fact. And with all these compromises and health risks we are asked to finish a competition that bears no resemblance to the one we started, which could end a small club like Watford's time in the Premier League.
"So is this fair? Does it have any semblance of sporting integrity? Of course not."
'A distorted nine-game mini league'
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March but is aiming to resume in June with most teams faced with nine fixtures left to fulfil.
Germany's Bundesliga will return on 16 May and teams will use their own stadiums for their remaining fixtures.
League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan has said the Premier League season could be cancelled if clubs do not agree to play at neutral venues.
Duxbury feels a "safe environment" can be created for the "300 or so" people who would attend a behind closed doors match at Vicarage Road.
He also believes clubs can have "more control" over their own fans if fixtures are played at their stadia. Some, including Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson, have raised the prospect of fans congregating at their own stadiums even if fixtures have been played at neutral venues.
"When at least six clubs — and I suspect more — are concerned about the clear downside and the devastating effects of playing in this kind of distorted nine-game mini-league, then I believe the Premier League has a duty of care to address those concerns," Duxbury wrote.
"If we start and finish a whole season under these conditions and at neutral venues when everybody knows the rules when we start, not created in a time of crisis, then that is clearly fair. To be asked to finish a quarter of the season under new rules and conditions is an entirely different proposition.
"How can the long-term future of clubs be determined under these fundamentally changed conditions? How is there any semblance of fairness? To wave aside all the fears and concerns is too simplistic. Surely all 20 clubs must agree the fairest way forward to complete the season?"
The national lead for football policing, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, told ITV that clubs should "get a grip" and stop complaining about neutral venues.
However, former football policing commander Owen West told The Guardian that there is "no rationale" for not allowing clubs to use their own stadiums.
Monday's Premier League meeting will feature a vote on whether player contracts are to be extended until the end of the rescheduled season.
Some players are due to be out of contract at the end of June.
A vote on the necessary medical protocols needed for a return to full training will also not be held as the measures proposed have not been shown to the Professional Footballers' Association or the League Managers Association.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52598311
Hornets chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury says it would compromise fairness and sporting integrity.
It is understood Premier League clubs are not planning to vote on whether to use neutral venues at a Monday meeting.
The vote looks likely to be held later in May and 14 of the 20 clubs must vote in favour for it to be adopted.
And while three have now made their opposition to the proposal known, it is understood others have similar feelings.
Before voting, league bosses are also awaiting government guidance on the criteria for bio-security at events and ground-safety licensing, which is expected later next week.
'No semblance of sporting integrity'
"I, of course, absolutely accept we cannot have supporters in the stadium," Duxbury wrote in The Times. "That goes without saying in the present situation.
"However, we are now told we cannot play our remaining home games at Vicarage Road and the familiarity and advantage that brings. This against a backdrop of players who, having seen their lives turned upside down along with the rest of the world, are suddenly expected to perform as if nothing has happened, despite the rest of society probably still facing the kind of restrictions unenforceable on a football pitch.
"We have club medical staff working under conditions that no doctor or physio has ever experienced with guidelines that, in no small part, are based at this stage on supposition rather than scientific fact. And with all these compromises and health risks we are asked to finish a competition that bears no resemblance to the one we started, which could end a small club like Watford's time in the Premier League.
"So is this fair? Does it have any semblance of sporting integrity? Of course not."
'A distorted nine-game mini league'
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March but is aiming to resume in June with most teams faced with nine fixtures left to fulfil.
Germany's Bundesliga will return on 16 May and teams will use their own stadiums for their remaining fixtures.
League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan has said the Premier League season could be cancelled if clubs do not agree to play at neutral venues.
Duxbury feels a "safe environment" can be created for the "300 or so" people who would attend a behind closed doors match at Vicarage Road.
He also believes clubs can have "more control" over their own fans if fixtures are played at their stadia. Some, including Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson, have raised the prospect of fans congregating at their own stadiums even if fixtures have been played at neutral venues.
"When at least six clubs — and I suspect more — are concerned about the clear downside and the devastating effects of playing in this kind of distorted nine-game mini-league, then I believe the Premier League has a duty of care to address those concerns," Duxbury wrote.
"If we start and finish a whole season under these conditions and at neutral venues when everybody knows the rules when we start, not created in a time of crisis, then that is clearly fair. To be asked to finish a quarter of the season under new rules and conditions is an entirely different proposition.
"How can the long-term future of clubs be determined under these fundamentally changed conditions? How is there any semblance of fairness? To wave aside all the fears and concerns is too simplistic. Surely all 20 clubs must agree the fairest way forward to complete the season?"
The national lead for football policing, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, told ITV that clubs should "get a grip" and stop complaining about neutral venues.
However, former football policing commander Owen West told The Guardian that there is "no rationale" for not allowing clubs to use their own stadiums.
Monday's Premier League meeting will feature a vote on whether player contracts are to be extended until the end of the rescheduled season.
Some players are due to be out of contract at the end of June.
A vote on the necessary medical protocols needed for a return to full training will also not be held as the measures proposed have not been shown to the Professional Footballers' Association or the League Managers Association.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52598311
The Viper
T20I Debutant
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- Sep 19, 2018
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- 6,865
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady says clubs may even have to disinfect the grass at their training grounds to ensure players can return to work safely
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- Oct 2, 2004
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A third Brighton player has tested positive for coronavirus.
The unnamed player, who will now self isolate for 14 days, was tested on Saturday - two other players tested positive earlier in the pandemic.
Brighton players have been training individually at the training ground and the club say this will be allowed to continue.
Premier League clubs are due to meet on Monday for more discussions about their proposed Project Restart plan.
"It is a concern," Brighton chief executive Paul Barber told Sky Sports. "Despite all of the measures that we've been taking over the past few weeks, where the players haven't been involved in any significant training at all, we've still suffered another player testing positive for the virus."
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March but is aiming to resume behind closed doors in June with most teams faced with nine fixtures left to play.
Project restart may prove beyond us - Parish
Barber has been vocal in his opposition to the league's plans of playing matches at neutral venues with Watford and Aston Villa also objecting to the proposal.
It is understood Premier League clubs are not planning to vote on whether to use neutral venues at Monday's meeting.
The vote looks likely to be held later in May and 14 of the 20 clubs must vote in favour for it to be adopted.
Before voting, league bosses are also awaiting government guidance on the criteria for bio-security at events and ground-safety licensing, which is expected later next week.
Monday's Premier League meeting will feature a vote on whether player contracts are to be extended until the end of the rescheduled season.
In Germany, Bundesliga 2 side Dynamo Dresden announced on Saturday they have put their entire squad and coaching staff into two-week isolation after two players tested positive for coronavirus.
The Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 are due to restart on Saturday, 16 May.
Analysis - 'Precarious nature of Project Restart'
This latest development underlines the precarious nature of the whole concept Project Restart - and how bitter the debate around it has become.
It didn't take long for the conspiracy theorists to point out Brighton have been vocal in their opposition to games being played on neutral venues and wonder if there was a connection between that and the positive Covid-19 test.
This pays no account to the professionalism of the medical staff involved - who have been communicating with each other across the Premier League to discuss the prospect of a restart.
Given events at Dynamo Dresden over the weekend, it is impossible to imagine there won't be further positive tests before England's top flight reaches its intended start date in the middle of June, each one doubtless bringing fresh calls for the 2019-20 season to be scrapped.
As they continue discussions around the detail of how football should be played - the reality, as Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish said on the Andrew Marr Programme on Sunday, is that we are still very much in the position of if it starts, rather than when.
The unnamed player, who will now self isolate for 14 days, was tested on Saturday - two other players tested positive earlier in the pandemic.
Brighton players have been training individually at the training ground and the club say this will be allowed to continue.
Premier League clubs are due to meet on Monday for more discussions about their proposed Project Restart plan.
"It is a concern," Brighton chief executive Paul Barber told Sky Sports. "Despite all of the measures that we've been taking over the past few weeks, where the players haven't been involved in any significant training at all, we've still suffered another player testing positive for the virus."
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March but is aiming to resume behind closed doors in June with most teams faced with nine fixtures left to play.
Project restart may prove beyond us - Parish
Barber has been vocal in his opposition to the league's plans of playing matches at neutral venues with Watford and Aston Villa also objecting to the proposal.
It is understood Premier League clubs are not planning to vote on whether to use neutral venues at Monday's meeting.
The vote looks likely to be held later in May and 14 of the 20 clubs must vote in favour for it to be adopted.
Before voting, league bosses are also awaiting government guidance on the criteria for bio-security at events and ground-safety licensing, which is expected later next week.
Monday's Premier League meeting will feature a vote on whether player contracts are to be extended until the end of the rescheduled season.
In Germany, Bundesliga 2 side Dynamo Dresden announced on Saturday they have put their entire squad and coaching staff into two-week isolation after two players tested positive for coronavirus.
The Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 are due to restart on Saturday, 16 May.
Analysis - 'Precarious nature of Project Restart'
This latest development underlines the precarious nature of the whole concept Project Restart - and how bitter the debate around it has become.
It didn't take long for the conspiracy theorists to point out Brighton have been vocal in their opposition to games being played on neutral venues and wonder if there was a connection between that and the positive Covid-19 test.
This pays no account to the professionalism of the medical staff involved - who have been communicating with each other across the Premier League to discuss the prospect of a restart.
Given events at Dynamo Dresden over the weekend, it is impossible to imagine there won't be further positive tests before England's top flight reaches its intended start date in the middle of June, each one doubtless bringing fresh calls for the 2019-20 season to be scrapped.
As they continue discussions around the detail of how football should be played - the reality, as Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish said on the Andrew Marr Programme on Sunday, is that we are still very much in the position of if it starts, rather than when.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
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- 217,993
Monday could be crunch time for English Premier League clubs, when they meet to discuss 'Project Restart' - how the league will conclude its 2019-20 season.
There are 92 games still to be played and it is expected they will held at neutral venues in order to reduce the chances of fans gathering nearby.
Watford, Brighton and Aston Villa have said they are opposed to the idea of using neutral venues.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Steve Parrish, the Crystal Palace chairman, said: "There are no easy answers, we have to work through it as a collective and I think we will and come out with a consensus in the end."
It was expected there would be a formal vote on Project Restart on Monday, but the vote has been delayed.
There are 92 games still to be played and it is expected they will held at neutral venues in order to reduce the chances of fans gathering nearby.
Watford, Brighton and Aston Villa have said they are opposed to the idea of using neutral venues.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Steve Parrish, the Crystal Palace chairman, said: "There are no easy answers, we have to work through it as a collective and I think we will and come out with a consensus in the end."
It was expected there would be a formal vote on Project Restart on Monday, but the vote has been delayed.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
The Premier League is set for a decisive few days in establishing whether it is possible to resume and complete the current season.
Club officials will meet on Monday to continue talks on Project Restart.
Prime minister Boris Johnson did not mention professional sport in unveiling plans to reopen society on Sunday.
The government is expected to announce on Monday that some elite athletes can start an initial phase of restricted group training later this week.
That will depend on medical protocols being finalised and accepted.
Footballers have so far been limited to individual training.
A vote on whether to use neutral venues is not planned during Monday's Premier League meeting - a sign that an estimated six or seven clubs remain opposed to the idea.
But the talks represent a major step towards establishing whether there is an appetite for playing out the season.
League bosses do not believe there is wide support for scrapping relegation, and are confident there is a consensus for returning to training, regardless of when the permission to play again is given.
The league has been suspended since 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic but is aiming to resume in June, with most clubs facing nine games to play.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden is due to meet football authorities on Thursday.
Later this week, the Premier League will also hold talks with the Professional Footballers' Association and the League Managers Association after they have digested the medical protocols needed for a return to firstly phased training and then full competition, and have received feedback from their members.
On Sunday, the PM said people in England will be able to "play sports but only with members of your own household".
Dowden tweeted that the government will "imminently allow" some sports like golf, basketball, tennis and fishing to resume "in the least risky outdoor environments" and only for those taking part alone or in their own households.
The Premier League still faces several challenges around Project Restart.
A third unnamed Brighton player tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday after two others tested positive earlier in the pandemic.
Privately conducted coronavirus tests are reckoned to cost between £150 and £180 and it is understood the protocols being worked on in football insist on twice-weekly tests.
For the Premier League to complete the remaining 92 matches, that could be about 40,000 tests at a cost of about £30,000 a week
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, who is backing Project Restart, told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that initial plans to stage league matches again from June may prove unfeasible.
Aston Villa, Brighton and Watford have all publicly opposed using neutral venues to complete the season, while club doctors have raised concerns over aspects of the proposals.
A vote on neutral venues is likely to be held later in May and 14 of the 20 clubs must vote in favour for it to be adopted.
Before voting, league bosses are also awaiting government guidance on the criteria for bio-security at events and ground-safety licensing, which is expected later this week.
Monday's Premier League meeting will feature a vote on whether player contracts are to be extended until the end of the rescheduled season.
European leagues have until 25 May to tell Uefa whether they want to complete or cancel their seasons.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has previously predicted a loss of "at least £1bn" if the Premier League fails to complete the 2019-20 campaign.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52609797
Club officials will meet on Monday to continue talks on Project Restart.
Prime minister Boris Johnson did not mention professional sport in unveiling plans to reopen society on Sunday.
The government is expected to announce on Monday that some elite athletes can start an initial phase of restricted group training later this week.
That will depend on medical protocols being finalised and accepted.
Footballers have so far been limited to individual training.
A vote on whether to use neutral venues is not planned during Monday's Premier League meeting - a sign that an estimated six or seven clubs remain opposed to the idea.
But the talks represent a major step towards establishing whether there is an appetite for playing out the season.
League bosses do not believe there is wide support for scrapping relegation, and are confident there is a consensus for returning to training, regardless of when the permission to play again is given.
The league has been suspended since 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic but is aiming to resume in June, with most clubs facing nine games to play.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden is due to meet football authorities on Thursday.
Later this week, the Premier League will also hold talks with the Professional Footballers' Association and the League Managers Association after they have digested the medical protocols needed for a return to firstly phased training and then full competition, and have received feedback from their members.
On Sunday, the PM said people in England will be able to "play sports but only with members of your own household".
Dowden tweeted that the government will "imminently allow" some sports like golf, basketball, tennis and fishing to resume "in the least risky outdoor environments" and only for those taking part alone or in their own households.
The Premier League still faces several challenges around Project Restart.
A third unnamed Brighton player tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday after two others tested positive earlier in the pandemic.
Privately conducted coronavirus tests are reckoned to cost between £150 and £180 and it is understood the protocols being worked on in football insist on twice-weekly tests.
For the Premier League to complete the remaining 92 matches, that could be about 40,000 tests at a cost of about £30,000 a week
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, who is backing Project Restart, told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that initial plans to stage league matches again from June may prove unfeasible.
Aston Villa, Brighton and Watford have all publicly opposed using neutral venues to complete the season, while club doctors have raised concerns over aspects of the proposals.
A vote on neutral venues is likely to be held later in May and 14 of the 20 clubs must vote in favour for it to be adopted.
Before voting, league bosses are also awaiting government guidance on the criteria for bio-security at events and ground-safety licensing, which is expected later this week.
Monday's Premier League meeting will feature a vote on whether player contracts are to be extended until the end of the rescheduled season.
European leagues have until 25 May to tell Uefa whether they want to complete or cancel their seasons.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has previously predicted a loss of "at least £1bn" if the Premier League fails to complete the 2019-20 campaign.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52609797
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- Mar 19, 2015
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- 15,745
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">From June 1, sporting events can take place behind closed doors <a href="https://t.co/IpzDTDsOPz">pic.twitter.com/IpzDTDsOPz</a></p>— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) <a href="https://twitter.com/martynziegler/status/1259832921650802688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Last edited:
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- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
A majority of clubs in the bottom half of the Premier League want relegation to be scrapped if and when the season restarts.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
The Premier League says it has listened to the objections of some clubs to the use of neutral grounds if the season resumes and will support them in putting those views to the authorities.
Chief executive Richard Masters said the organisation was in an "ongoing dialogue" with government, police and ground safety officials.
"Everybody would prefer to play at home and away if at all possible, and it's clear to see some clubs feel more strongly about that than others," he said after a shareholders' meeting.
"We are in contact with the authorities and listening to that advice, while also representing club views in those discussions."
He said "a really strong collective will to complete the season remains" but admitted that "curtailment" of the season was discussed for the first time at the meeting.
Two weeks ago clubs were told neutral stadiums were the only way the season could be completed, because authorities were concerned about fans congregating outside home grounds and breaching social distancing rules.
But at least six clubs are opposed to the proposal in the Project Restart plan, with Watford, Aston Villa and Brighton coming out publicly against it.
Those clubs now want the chance to show they can deliver home and away matches safely, and league bosses are behind them.
"Since Covid became an issue we've been talking to the authorities about the conditions in which we could get the Premier League back up and running and taking all that advice on board, but it is an ongoing dialogue," said Masters, speaking for the first time since the season was suspended.
"But all must be cognisant of what authorities are telling us, and we'll continue with that consultation."
The government is understood to have "open ears" regarding neutral venues and is prepared to discuss the matter. However a final decision is likely to rest with the police and ground safety officials, who have to grant licences to venues.
Last week the head of the UK's football policing unit, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, said clubs opposed to neutral grounds should "get a grip".
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson also told the BBC he feared thousands of the club's fans would gather outside Anfield to celebrate the title, even if matches were played at neutral venues.
Despite mounting tension and division over the use of neutral stadiums, Masters said Monday's five-hour meeting showed a "strong desire to discuss everything in the round, and to agree a collective way forward".
He insisted a "really strong collective will to complete the season remains".
But he also admitted than a cancellation of the season was discussed for the first time.
"It's the first time we've discussed curtailment," he said. "It's still our aim to finish the season obviously, but it's important to discuss all of the options with our clubs.
"Obviously we won't be playing until the middle of June. It doesn't seem quite right to be talking about playing before we've taken a decision to return to the first stage of training.
"But in terms of how those matches will take place there's a lot of water to pass under the bridge, and we'll continue to assess the circumstances then."
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52579299
Chief executive Richard Masters said the organisation was in an "ongoing dialogue" with government, police and ground safety officials.
"Everybody would prefer to play at home and away if at all possible, and it's clear to see some clubs feel more strongly about that than others," he said after a shareholders' meeting.
"We are in contact with the authorities and listening to that advice, while also representing club views in those discussions."
He said "a really strong collective will to complete the season remains" but admitted that "curtailment" of the season was discussed for the first time at the meeting.
Two weeks ago clubs were told neutral stadiums were the only way the season could be completed, because authorities were concerned about fans congregating outside home grounds and breaching social distancing rules.
But at least six clubs are opposed to the proposal in the Project Restart plan, with Watford, Aston Villa and Brighton coming out publicly against it.
Those clubs now want the chance to show they can deliver home and away matches safely, and league bosses are behind them.
"Since Covid became an issue we've been talking to the authorities about the conditions in which we could get the Premier League back up and running and taking all that advice on board, but it is an ongoing dialogue," said Masters, speaking for the first time since the season was suspended.
"But all must be cognisant of what authorities are telling us, and we'll continue with that consultation."
The government is understood to have "open ears" regarding neutral venues and is prepared to discuss the matter. However a final decision is likely to rest with the police and ground safety officials, who have to grant licences to venues.
Last week the head of the UK's football policing unit, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, said clubs opposed to neutral grounds should "get a grip".
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson also told the BBC he feared thousands of the club's fans would gather outside Anfield to celebrate the title, even if matches were played at neutral venues.
Despite mounting tension and division over the use of neutral stadiums, Masters said Monday's five-hour meeting showed a "strong desire to discuss everything in the round, and to agree a collective way forward".
He insisted a "really strong collective will to complete the season remains".
But he also admitted than a cancellation of the season was discussed for the first time.
"It's the first time we've discussed curtailment," he said. "It's still our aim to finish the season obviously, but it's important to discuss all of the options with our clubs.
"Obviously we won't be playing until the middle of June. It doesn't seem quite right to be talking about playing before we've taken a decision to return to the first stage of training.
"But in terms of how those matches will take place there's a lot of water to pass under the bridge, and we'll continue to assess the circumstances then."
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52579299
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- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
Premier League clubs have been told they could have to repay an estimated £340m to domestic and international broadcasters - even if the season resumes behind closed doors.
And BBC Sport has learned the clubs were warned on Monday that figure could rise if the season is curtailed or if relegation is scrapped.
Club officials met on Monday to continue talks on 'Project Restart'.
Items including playing matches at neutral venues were also discussed.
The refund has been requested as matches are not taking place as expected - both because they will be played without fans and at different times to originally scheduled.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters had previously predicted a loss of "at least £1bn" if the Premier League failed to complete the 2019-20 season.
"We were able to update our clubs today on our situation with broadcasters, which is obviously confidential," Masters said on Monday.
"Whatever happens, there's going to be significant loss of revenue for clubs. That is inevitable.
"We were able to paint a picture today about what would happen in various scenarios, playing out the season and not playing out the season, to allow them to have a picture of that as we stand in the early part of May.
"But in terms of putting an estimate on it, I don't want to do that today."
No elite sport in England before 1 June
Reconsidering neutral venues
The Premier League says it has listened to the objections of some clubs to the use of neutral grounds if the season resumes, and will support them in putting those views to the authorities.
Masters said the organisation was in "ongoing dialogue" with the government, police and ground safety officials.
"Everybody would prefer to play at home and away if at all possible, and it's clear to see some clubs feel more strongly about that than others," he said after a shareholders' meeting.
He said clubs had argued against using neutral grounds because fans could be trusted not to gather in large numbers at their stadiums.
"I think some of our clubs would argue that in relation to policing their own fans that they have a good relationship with them," Masters said.
"They can encourage their own fans not to turn up outside their home venues while they're playing behind closed doors, and they're in a better position to control that, but it's not a matter of convincing - this has to be a decision that's come to mutually."
He said "a really strong collective will to complete the season remains" but admitted "curtailment" of the season was discussed for the first time on Monday.
Two weeks ago clubs were told neutral stadiums were the only way the season could be completed, because authorities were concerned about fans congregating outside home grounds and breaching social distancing rules.
A significant majority of the clubs are understood to be opposed to the proposal, with Watford, Aston Villa and Brighton coming out publicly against it.
Those clubs now want the chance to show they can deliver home and away matches safely, and league bosses are behind them.
"Since Covid became an issue we've been talking to the authorities about the conditions in which we could get the Premier League back up and running and taking all that advice on board, but it is an ongoing dialogue," said Masters, speaking for the first time since the season was suspended.
"But all must be cognisant of what authorities are telling us, and we'll continue with that consultation."
The government is understood to have "open ears" regarding neutral venues and is prepared to discuss the matter. However a final decision is likely to rest with the police and ground safety officials, who have to grant licences to venues.
Last week the head of the UK's football policing unit, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, said clubs opposed to neutral grounds should "get a grip".
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson told the BBC he feared thousands of Reds fans would gather outside Anfield to celebrate the title, even if matches were played at neutral venues.
However, recently retired West Yorkshire chief superintendent Owen West told the Guardian the use of neutral stadiums had "no rationale", and such a proposal was not being enforced in Germany where the Bundesliga hopes to resume this weekend.
What happens next?
Wednesday, 13 May: Professional Footballers' Association/League Managers' Association consult members on medical protocols
Thursday, 14 May: Meetings between Premier League and PFA/LMA about medical protocols
Thursday, 14 May: Meeting between Culture Secretary and football authorities
Monday, 18 May: Next Premier League meeting
Monday, 18 May: Premier League players may return to initial group training under socially distancing protocols
25 May: Uefa deadline for leagues to have finalised plan for restarting seasons
1 June: Government date for possible return of elite sport behind closed doors in England
12 June: Premier League aiming to return with first fixture
'Collective will to complete the season'
Despite mounting tension and division over the use of neutral stadiums, Masters said Monday's five-hour meeting showed a "strong desire to discuss everything in the round, and to agree a collective way forward".
He insisted a "really strong collective will to complete the season remains".
But he also admitted a cancellation of the season was discussed for the first time.
"It's the first time we've discussed curtailment," he said. "It's still our aim to finish the season obviously, but it's important to discuss all of the options with our clubs.
"Obviously we won't be playing until the middle of June. It doesn't seem quite right to be talking about playing before we've taken a decision to return to the first stage of training.
"But in terms of how those matches will take place there's a lot of water to pass under the bridge, and we'll continue to assess the circumstances then."
Masters said the issue of scrapping relegation had not been raised at any Premier League meetings.
"Not in our meetings, last week or today," he said. "All I can go on is what we're discussing in our meetings. And you specifically asked about scrapping relegation while playing out the season, and that has never been raised in our formal meetings at all."
The issue of contracts was discussed, with some players due to be out of contract at the end of June.
"What was agreed was that players can extend their contracts until the end of the season," said Masters.
"It must be agreed by both parties."
Asked whether the Premier League returning on 12 June was the aim, he added: "I think it's too early for us to talk about it. We want to remain in step with government and the authorities. And we want to remain in step with the mood of football supporters.
"I think really the talk at the moment should be about the tentative steps we are taking now that the announcements have been made about getting back to training, and only once players have been consulted."
Players and managers will be consulted on proposed medical protocols for a return to training by the PFA and LMA over the next two days, before meetings with the Premier League on Thursday. If the measures are accepted, an initial phase of group training could begin next week.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52579299
And BBC Sport has learned the clubs were warned on Monday that figure could rise if the season is curtailed or if relegation is scrapped.
Club officials met on Monday to continue talks on 'Project Restart'.
Items including playing matches at neutral venues were also discussed.
The refund has been requested as matches are not taking place as expected - both because they will be played without fans and at different times to originally scheduled.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters had previously predicted a loss of "at least £1bn" if the Premier League failed to complete the 2019-20 season.
"We were able to update our clubs today on our situation with broadcasters, which is obviously confidential," Masters said on Monday.
"Whatever happens, there's going to be significant loss of revenue for clubs. That is inevitable.
"We were able to paint a picture today about what would happen in various scenarios, playing out the season and not playing out the season, to allow them to have a picture of that as we stand in the early part of May.
"But in terms of putting an estimate on it, I don't want to do that today."
No elite sport in England before 1 June
Reconsidering neutral venues
The Premier League says it has listened to the objections of some clubs to the use of neutral grounds if the season resumes, and will support them in putting those views to the authorities.
Masters said the organisation was in "ongoing dialogue" with the government, police and ground safety officials.
"Everybody would prefer to play at home and away if at all possible, and it's clear to see some clubs feel more strongly about that than others," he said after a shareholders' meeting.
He said clubs had argued against using neutral grounds because fans could be trusted not to gather in large numbers at their stadiums.
"I think some of our clubs would argue that in relation to policing their own fans that they have a good relationship with them," Masters said.
"They can encourage their own fans not to turn up outside their home venues while they're playing behind closed doors, and they're in a better position to control that, but it's not a matter of convincing - this has to be a decision that's come to mutually."
He said "a really strong collective will to complete the season remains" but admitted "curtailment" of the season was discussed for the first time on Monday.
Two weeks ago clubs were told neutral stadiums were the only way the season could be completed, because authorities were concerned about fans congregating outside home grounds and breaching social distancing rules.
A significant majority of the clubs are understood to be opposed to the proposal, with Watford, Aston Villa and Brighton coming out publicly against it.
Those clubs now want the chance to show they can deliver home and away matches safely, and league bosses are behind them.
"Since Covid became an issue we've been talking to the authorities about the conditions in which we could get the Premier League back up and running and taking all that advice on board, but it is an ongoing dialogue," said Masters, speaking for the first time since the season was suspended.
"But all must be cognisant of what authorities are telling us, and we'll continue with that consultation."
The government is understood to have "open ears" regarding neutral venues and is prepared to discuss the matter. However a final decision is likely to rest with the police and ground safety officials, who have to grant licences to venues.
Last week the head of the UK's football policing unit, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, said clubs opposed to neutral grounds should "get a grip".
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson told the BBC he feared thousands of Reds fans would gather outside Anfield to celebrate the title, even if matches were played at neutral venues.
However, recently retired West Yorkshire chief superintendent Owen West told the Guardian the use of neutral stadiums had "no rationale", and such a proposal was not being enforced in Germany where the Bundesliga hopes to resume this weekend.
What happens next?
Wednesday, 13 May: Professional Footballers' Association/League Managers' Association consult members on medical protocols
Thursday, 14 May: Meetings between Premier League and PFA/LMA about medical protocols
Thursday, 14 May: Meeting between Culture Secretary and football authorities
Monday, 18 May: Next Premier League meeting
Monday, 18 May: Premier League players may return to initial group training under socially distancing protocols
25 May: Uefa deadline for leagues to have finalised plan for restarting seasons
1 June: Government date for possible return of elite sport behind closed doors in England
12 June: Premier League aiming to return with first fixture
'Collective will to complete the season'
Despite mounting tension and division over the use of neutral stadiums, Masters said Monday's five-hour meeting showed a "strong desire to discuss everything in the round, and to agree a collective way forward".
He insisted a "really strong collective will to complete the season remains".
But he also admitted a cancellation of the season was discussed for the first time.
"It's the first time we've discussed curtailment," he said. "It's still our aim to finish the season obviously, but it's important to discuss all of the options with our clubs.
"Obviously we won't be playing until the middle of June. It doesn't seem quite right to be talking about playing before we've taken a decision to return to the first stage of training.
"But in terms of how those matches will take place there's a lot of water to pass under the bridge, and we'll continue to assess the circumstances then."
Masters said the issue of scrapping relegation had not been raised at any Premier League meetings.
"Not in our meetings, last week or today," he said. "All I can go on is what we're discussing in our meetings. And you specifically asked about scrapping relegation while playing out the season, and that has never been raised in our formal meetings at all."
The issue of contracts was discussed, with some players due to be out of contract at the end of June.
"What was agreed was that players can extend their contracts until the end of the season," said Masters.
"It must be agreed by both parties."
Asked whether the Premier League returning on 12 June was the aim, he added: "I think it's too early for us to talk about it. We want to remain in step with government and the authorities. And we want to remain in step with the mood of football supporters.
"I think really the talk at the moment should be about the tentative steps we are taking now that the announcements have been made about getting back to training, and only once players have been consulted."
Players and managers will be consulted on proposed medical protocols for a return to training by the PFA and LMA over the next two days, before meetings with the Premier League on Thursday. If the measures are accepted, an initial phase of group training could begin next week.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52579299
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
Wolverhampton Wanderers have become the first English Premier League club to install a drive-through Covid-19 testing station at their training ground for players and staff.
It is understood Wolves players are yet to use the procedure. Backroom staff have been tested in a process the Premier League hopes will become the template for other clubs across the English top-flight.
The testing takes place in the car park of the training ground and takes less than a minute.
The Premier League is hoping to restart the football season on 12 June. Some clubs have allowed players to train individually, although they are not yet allowed to take part in group sessions.
It is understood Wolves players are yet to use the procedure. Backroom staff have been tested in a process the Premier League hopes will become the template for other clubs across the English top-flight.
The testing takes place in the car park of the training ground and takes less than a minute.
The Premier League is hoping to restart the football season on 12 June. Some clubs have allowed players to train individually, although they are not yet allowed to take part in group sessions.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
England footballer Danny Rose has criticised the government's plan to bring Premier League back as early as next month, saying: "I don't give a f*** about the nation's morale."
The Tottenham defender, who has been on loan at Newcastle, said "people's lives are at risk" and the return of football should only be considered when coronavirus cases have "dropped massively".
Boris Johnson has outlined plans to ease the UK's lockdown including having sporting events played behind closed doors from 1 June, which the prime minister said would offer a "much-needed boost to the national morale".
The Premier League's plan, dubbed "Project Restart", is to resume games by 12 June at the earliest, and in stadiums with no fans, pending government approval.
Speaking on Lock'Don Live on Instagram, Rose said: "Government is saying 'bring football back' because it is going to boost the nation's morale.
"I don't give a f*** about the nation's morale, bro, people's lives are at risk.
"Football shouldn't even be spoken about coming back until the numbers have dropped massively. It's b******s."
He added: "Football should be the last of things that need to be sorted."
Rose, 29, also revealed he believed he was being tested for coronavirus on Friday. Last weekend it was confirmed that a third Brighton player had tested positive for COVID-19.
Fellow England footballer Raheem Sterling has also voiced concerns about the timing of the Premier League's return, saying it should not just be for "footballing reasons" but when it is safe for everyone in the game.
In a video posted to his YouTube channel, the Manchester City star said he was "not scared, but reserved and thinking what the worst outcome could be".
He added: "I've had friends whose grandma has passed away, I've had family members as well that have passed away.
"You've got to be wise and take care of yourself and those around you."
Almost three-quarters of people would not see the return of football as a boost to their morale during the pandemic, according to a YouGov poll.
In a survey of more than 2,000 people, 73% said the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) coming back would not lift their spirits.
Some 19% said they would be pleased to see football return.
The Premier League was suspended on 13 March, with Liverpool sitting 25 points clear at the top, with nine games left to play.
Top flight clubs have been warned by the Football Association that the 2019-20 season must be decided on sporting merit - ruling out the possibility of the season being declared null and void.
Whichever way Premier League clubs vote on how to proceed, the future must include promotion and relegation, clubs were told.
This means that runaway league leaders Liverpool will almost certainly claim their first top tier title in 30 years.
https://news.sky.com/story/danny-ro...nt-give-a-f-about-the-nations-morale-11986898
The Tottenham defender, who has been on loan at Newcastle, said "people's lives are at risk" and the return of football should only be considered when coronavirus cases have "dropped massively".
Boris Johnson has outlined plans to ease the UK's lockdown including having sporting events played behind closed doors from 1 June, which the prime minister said would offer a "much-needed boost to the national morale".
The Premier League's plan, dubbed "Project Restart", is to resume games by 12 June at the earliest, and in stadiums with no fans, pending government approval.
Speaking on Lock'Don Live on Instagram, Rose said: "Government is saying 'bring football back' because it is going to boost the nation's morale.
"I don't give a f*** about the nation's morale, bro, people's lives are at risk.
"Football shouldn't even be spoken about coming back until the numbers have dropped massively. It's b******s."
He added: "Football should be the last of things that need to be sorted."
Rose, 29, also revealed he believed he was being tested for coronavirus on Friday. Last weekend it was confirmed that a third Brighton player had tested positive for COVID-19.
Fellow England footballer Raheem Sterling has also voiced concerns about the timing of the Premier League's return, saying it should not just be for "footballing reasons" but when it is safe for everyone in the game.
In a video posted to his YouTube channel, the Manchester City star said he was "not scared, but reserved and thinking what the worst outcome could be".
He added: "I've had friends whose grandma has passed away, I've had family members as well that have passed away.
"You've got to be wise and take care of yourself and those around you."
Almost three-quarters of people would not see the return of football as a boost to their morale during the pandemic, according to a YouGov poll.
In a survey of more than 2,000 people, 73% said the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) coming back would not lift their spirits.
Some 19% said they would be pleased to see football return.
The Premier League was suspended on 13 March, with Liverpool sitting 25 points clear at the top, with nine games left to play.
Top flight clubs have been warned by the Football Association that the 2019-20 season must be decided on sporting merit - ruling out the possibility of the season being declared null and void.
Whichever way Premier League clubs vote on how to proceed, the future must include promotion and relegation, clubs were told.
This means that runaway league leaders Liverpool will almost certainly claim their first top tier title in 30 years.
https://news.sky.com/story/danny-ro...nt-give-a-f-about-the-nations-morale-11986898
Rana
Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
- Runs
- 85,941
Footballers never have been the brightest have they?
Did this guy bother listening to what Professor Chris Witty say at the conclusion of yesterday’s Downing Street briefing? Or does he feel that he knows the pandemic better than a world renowned SAGE expert?
Rana
Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
- Runs
- 85,941
With all due respect. Any footballers/pro sportsmen who do not want to resume their duty should be placed on the excellent Furlough scheme set up by our brilliant chancellor. They can boost the nation and the sporting Organisations morale through this as well.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
A group of Premier League clubs are to hold talks with their local police forces this week, with hopes the idea of using neutral venues can be scrapped.
A number of clubs believe their local force, along with their safety advisory group, which issue safety certificates allowing matches to take place, will confirm they are willing to sanction the playing of traditional 'home' matches.
However, Sky Sports News can confirm definitively there is no local agreement on football policing at Premier League and EFL grounds. Policing policy is taken from a national standpoint which local forces follow.
To ease fears that large crowds of supporters will gather at stadia up and down the country, clubs will issue strict warnings to fans - and will hand out long-term stadium bans (lasting several years) to any fans identified near their ground on matchdays.
Monday's meeting of Premier League stakeholders agreed that the league would try to convince the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to relax its stance on the need for neutral venues when planned fixtures return on June 12 and 13.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, head of UK Football Unit, says dialogue has taken place about how the season can restart so he can provide guidelines to forces across the country.
He said on Tuesday: "Following a positive meeting between police, government and football last night, we will be jointly exploring a range of options to identify a way forward, which minimises any risks to public safety and unnecessary pressure on public services, but facilitates a sensible restart to the season, to support the economic and morale benefits associated with the sport."
Roberts, though, has reiterated his preference that neutral venues are used. He is now awaiting all proposals from the Premier League.
To date, no clubs have been told they are being considered as 'neutral' grounds, while more than half of them believing the integrity of the competition will be adversely affected by the use of neutral venues.
New Premier League CEO Richard Masters held a Q&A on Monday during which he said no clubs had issued any ultimatums over the use of neutral grounds.
But he added: "All clubs would prefer to play at home and they accept it's an issue to be addressed. That pretty much summarises it.
"It's fair to say that it is not an issue which is unique to any part of the league.
"I think some of our clubs would argue that in relation to policing their own fans that they have a good relationship with them, and that they encourage their own fans not to turn up outside their home venues while they're playing behind closed doors.
"They're in a better position to control that, but it's not a matter of convincing, this has to be a decision that's come to mutually."
Read more on:
https://www.skysports.com/football/...pport-will-help-scrap-neutral-venues-proposal
A number of clubs believe their local force, along with their safety advisory group, which issue safety certificates allowing matches to take place, will confirm they are willing to sanction the playing of traditional 'home' matches.
However, Sky Sports News can confirm definitively there is no local agreement on football policing at Premier League and EFL grounds. Policing policy is taken from a national standpoint which local forces follow.
To ease fears that large crowds of supporters will gather at stadia up and down the country, clubs will issue strict warnings to fans - and will hand out long-term stadium bans (lasting several years) to any fans identified near their ground on matchdays.
Monday's meeting of Premier League stakeholders agreed that the league would try to convince the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to relax its stance on the need for neutral venues when planned fixtures return on June 12 and 13.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, head of UK Football Unit, says dialogue has taken place about how the season can restart so he can provide guidelines to forces across the country.
He said on Tuesday: "Following a positive meeting between police, government and football last night, we will be jointly exploring a range of options to identify a way forward, which minimises any risks to public safety and unnecessary pressure on public services, but facilitates a sensible restart to the season, to support the economic and morale benefits associated with the sport."
Roberts, though, has reiterated his preference that neutral venues are used. He is now awaiting all proposals from the Premier League.
To date, no clubs have been told they are being considered as 'neutral' grounds, while more than half of them believing the integrity of the competition will be adversely affected by the use of neutral venues.
New Premier League CEO Richard Masters held a Q&A on Monday during which he said no clubs had issued any ultimatums over the use of neutral grounds.
But he added: "All clubs would prefer to play at home and they accept it's an issue to be addressed. That pretty much summarises it.
"It's fair to say that it is not an issue which is unique to any part of the league.
"I think some of our clubs would argue that in relation to policing their own fans that they have a good relationship with them, and that they encourage their own fans not to turn up outside their home venues while they're playing behind closed doors.
"They're in a better position to control that, but it's not a matter of convincing, this has to be a decision that's come to mutually."
Read more on:
https://www.skysports.com/football/...pport-will-help-scrap-neutral-venues-proposal
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
Tackling will be banned, pitches disinfected and players restricted to groups of five when the Premier League starts a first phase of team training.
Official protocols sent to players and managers on Tuesday and obtained by the BBC reveal that social distancing must be "strictly observed".
Corner-flags, balls, cones, goalposts and even playing surfaces will be disinfected after each session.
League bosses hope training can begin on Monday, restricted to 75 minutes.
Ongoing surveillance measures included in further guidance include twice-weekly testing, and a daily pre-training questionnaire and temperature check.
Under a section titled 'health screening', players are also told a central register of Covid-19 test results (subject to their consent and Professional Footballers' Association agreement) will need to be maintained.
Recommended "control measures" include "meticulous personal hygiene and use of PPE [personal protective equipment], no congregation in communal areas, including but not limited to medical rooms and gym areas".
Under further stringent rules, players are told they cannot share transport with anyone to and from the training ground, and vehicle interiors should be cleaned regularly. Team vehicles and public transport should not be used.
Players are being consulted on proposed medical protocols for a return to training by the PFA. They have been given a condensed version of a 40-page document for them to digest.
The BBC understands the PFA has heard from a number of players, especially those who have underlying health conditions like asthma or who are from black and minority ethnic (Bame) backgrounds, that they have real concerns about returning to playing.
Black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die with coronavirus as white people in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The draft protocols refer to "additional risk assessment and precautions required for players at increased risk (co-morbidity)".
On Wednesday, there will be a meeting between players, the Premier League, medical staff and the PFA.
Government approval will need to be granted before teams can continue to the next stage of training, when contact would be permitted.
Troy Townsend, from equality and inclusion organisation Kick It Out and father of Crystal Palace and England winger Andros Townsend, says he understands players' concerns over the risk a return to action in the near future could represent to not only themselves but also their families.
Townsend told BBC Sport: "I love watching my son play football, I love watching his team play and I love every aspect of what football brings, but these are uncertain times and ultimately I don't want to be watching him with worry right across my face.
"I don't think I could watch the game comfortably any more if we do go back anytime soon because you are worried about what he is walking away from and what he may be opening his family up to too.
"If I am concerned about that it has to be a worry for any parent or any person connected to a player that may have to put themselves in that situation, which is a situation of worry."
Townsend is also concerned by the increased risk the virus appears to pose to people who are from Bame backgrounds, and says he would reluctantly accept cancelling the season if player safety cannot be assured.
He added: "Unfortunately we have seen some stats come out where it seems more people from the black and minority ethnic communities have been affected by the virus, which puts another worry mark on the lines on my head.
"I just cannot visualise watching players out on a football pitch and particularly my own son while this uncertainty continues, I cannot see it.
"If that means we have to shut up shop - null and void - then unfortunately I would rather that than put people at risk or lose lives unnecessarily."
What happens next?
Wednesday, 13 May: Professional Footballers' Association/League Managers' Association consult members on medical protocols
Thursday, 14 May: Meetings between Premier League and PFA/LMA about medical protocols
Thursday, 14 May: Meeting between Culture Secretary and football authorities
Monday, 18 May: Next Premier League meeting
Monday, 18 May: Premier League players may return to initial group training under socially distancing protocols
25 May: Uefa deadline for leagues to have finalised plan for restarting seasons
1 June: Government date for possible return of elite sport behind closed doors in England
12 June: Premier League aiming to return with first fixture
Official protocols sent to players and managers on Tuesday and obtained by the BBC reveal that social distancing must be "strictly observed".
Corner-flags, balls, cones, goalposts and even playing surfaces will be disinfected after each session.
League bosses hope training can begin on Monday, restricted to 75 minutes.
Ongoing surveillance measures included in further guidance include twice-weekly testing, and a daily pre-training questionnaire and temperature check.
Under a section titled 'health screening', players are also told a central register of Covid-19 test results (subject to their consent and Professional Footballers' Association agreement) will need to be maintained.
Recommended "control measures" include "meticulous personal hygiene and use of PPE [personal protective equipment], no congregation in communal areas, including but not limited to medical rooms and gym areas".
Under further stringent rules, players are told they cannot share transport with anyone to and from the training ground, and vehicle interiors should be cleaned regularly. Team vehicles and public transport should not be used.
Players are being consulted on proposed medical protocols for a return to training by the PFA. They have been given a condensed version of a 40-page document for them to digest.
The BBC understands the PFA has heard from a number of players, especially those who have underlying health conditions like asthma or who are from black and minority ethnic (Bame) backgrounds, that they have real concerns about returning to playing.
Black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die with coronavirus as white people in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The draft protocols refer to "additional risk assessment and precautions required for players at increased risk (co-morbidity)".
On Wednesday, there will be a meeting between players, the Premier League, medical staff and the PFA.
Government approval will need to be granted before teams can continue to the next stage of training, when contact would be permitted.
Troy Townsend, from equality and inclusion organisation Kick It Out and father of Crystal Palace and England winger Andros Townsend, says he understands players' concerns over the risk a return to action in the near future could represent to not only themselves but also their families.
Townsend told BBC Sport: "I love watching my son play football, I love watching his team play and I love every aspect of what football brings, but these are uncertain times and ultimately I don't want to be watching him with worry right across my face.
"I don't think I could watch the game comfortably any more if we do go back anytime soon because you are worried about what he is walking away from and what he may be opening his family up to too.
"If I am concerned about that it has to be a worry for any parent or any person connected to a player that may have to put themselves in that situation, which is a situation of worry."
Townsend is also concerned by the increased risk the virus appears to pose to people who are from Bame backgrounds, and says he would reluctantly accept cancelling the season if player safety cannot be assured.
He added: "Unfortunately we have seen some stats come out where it seems more people from the black and minority ethnic communities have been affected by the virus, which puts another worry mark on the lines on my head.
"I just cannot visualise watching players out on a football pitch and particularly my own son while this uncertainty continues, I cannot see it.
"If that means we have to shut up shop - null and void - then unfortunately I would rather that than put people at risk or lose lives unnecessarily."
What happens next?
Wednesday, 13 May: Professional Footballers' Association/League Managers' Association consult members on medical protocols
Thursday, 14 May: Meetings between Premier League and PFA/LMA about medical protocols
Thursday, 14 May: Meeting between Culture Secretary and football authorities
Monday, 18 May: Next Premier League meeting
Monday, 18 May: Premier League players may return to initial group training under socially distancing protocols
25 May: Uefa deadline for leagues to have finalised plan for restarting seasons
1 June: Government date for possible return of elite sport behind closed doors in England
12 June: Premier League aiming to return with first fixture
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
The Premier League will hold conference calls with club captains, managers and medical experts on Wednesday.
All 20 top-flight managers will attend the first-of-its kind meeting with Premier League officials to discuss the details of Project Restart.
The meetings will include representatives from the Professional Footballers' Association [PFA] and League Managers Association [LMA] and focus on the issue of player welfare.
The calls will take place before the Premier League, and other representatives in English football, hold talks with the government on Thursday.
Medical protocols will be presented to managers by the Premier League's chief medical adviser, Mark Gillett.
Managers are keen to learn more about the testing of players and tracking of positive cases - and what happens if one or more players test positive when training and competition returns.
Operational details will be provided by the league's director of football, Richard Garlick. Garlick's plans for a return to training and competition were discussed at Monday's shareholders' meeting and may yet be updated before being agreed by all clubs.
The League Managers Association, as well as all 20 Premier League managers, will continue discussions on Thursday, Friday and next Monday to made sure their major concerns are fully considered.
Right for players to 'voice the concerns'
"It is right the players voice their concerns," Richard Masters, Premier League chief executive, said on Monday. "It is right that they will have concerns and questions and we need to hear those first.
"The clubs have been very clear that the players have to be consulted properly and that their concerns have to be heard."
Masters revealed the concept of isolating entire squads in a secure environment has been discussed, but it was not the 'favoured route'.
"Ultimately, in the judgement of medical professionals, which I am not, they think that the formula they have created is it safe and appropriate," he said.
"We want to remain in step with government and the authorities. We want to remain in step with the mood of football supporters. I think really the talk at the moment should be about the tentative steps we are taking now that the announcements have been made about going back to training and only once players have been consulted."
Spain's La Liga sides have returned to training under social distancing rules as they step up preparations to resume the league.
Premier League players will be required to provide written confirmation that they agree to their club's new safety measures before they return to group training, Sky Sports News has confirmed.
Clubs are required to conduct an occupational health risk assessment by Friday May 15 and make results available to the Premier League on request.
The updated draft guidance, issued by Premier League director of football Garlick, was dated in advance of a shareholders meeting on Monday.
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor says getting the balance between safety and normality is key in the Premier League returning.
"It's never easy when we've had over six weeks of being told to stay inside, and the next minutes it's the start of what's being perceived as the easing of these restrictions," Taylor said.
"The players don't want to be seen as guinea pigs and that will apply to everyone in professional sport.
"It's about getting the balance of safety and also trying to get back to normality as much as possible."
https://www.skysports.com/football/...-captains-all-20-managers-and-medical-experts
All 20 top-flight managers will attend the first-of-its kind meeting with Premier League officials to discuss the details of Project Restart.
The meetings will include representatives from the Professional Footballers' Association [PFA] and League Managers Association [LMA] and focus on the issue of player welfare.
The calls will take place before the Premier League, and other representatives in English football, hold talks with the government on Thursday.
Medical protocols will be presented to managers by the Premier League's chief medical adviser, Mark Gillett.
Managers are keen to learn more about the testing of players and tracking of positive cases - and what happens if one or more players test positive when training and competition returns.
Operational details will be provided by the league's director of football, Richard Garlick. Garlick's plans for a return to training and competition were discussed at Monday's shareholders' meeting and may yet be updated before being agreed by all clubs.
The League Managers Association, as well as all 20 Premier League managers, will continue discussions on Thursday, Friday and next Monday to made sure their major concerns are fully considered.
Right for players to 'voice the concerns'
"It is right the players voice their concerns," Richard Masters, Premier League chief executive, said on Monday. "It is right that they will have concerns and questions and we need to hear those first.
"The clubs have been very clear that the players have to be consulted properly and that their concerns have to be heard."
Masters revealed the concept of isolating entire squads in a secure environment has been discussed, but it was not the 'favoured route'.
"Ultimately, in the judgement of medical professionals, which I am not, they think that the formula they have created is it safe and appropriate," he said.
"We want to remain in step with government and the authorities. We want to remain in step with the mood of football supporters. I think really the talk at the moment should be about the tentative steps we are taking now that the announcements have been made about going back to training and only once players have been consulted."
Spain's La Liga sides have returned to training under social distancing rules as they step up preparations to resume the league.
Premier League players will be required to provide written confirmation that they agree to their club's new safety measures before they return to group training, Sky Sports News has confirmed.
Clubs are required to conduct an occupational health risk assessment by Friday May 15 and make results available to the Premier League on request.
The updated draft guidance, issued by Premier League director of football Garlick, was dated in advance of a shareholders meeting on Monday.
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor says getting the balance between safety and normality is key in the Premier League returning.
"It's never easy when we've had over six weeks of being told to stay inside, and the next minutes it's the start of what's being perceived as the easing of these restrictions," Taylor said.
"The players don't want to be seen as guinea pigs and that will apply to everyone in professional sport.
"It's about getting the balance of safety and also trying to get back to normality as much as possible."
https://www.skysports.com/football/...-captains-all-20-managers-and-medical-experts
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London mayor says June 'too early' to resume Premier League
London mayor Sadiq Khan says it's "too early" to be discussing the resumption of the Premier League and other high-profile sports in the UK capital because the country is "still in the grips of this crisis, and hundreds of people (are) dying every day", the Evening Standard reported, citing a spokesman for the mayor.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are among the five Premier League clubs in London.
The possibility of games resuming next month got a boost after the government said elite-level sport could resume behind closed doors from June 1.
Teams have been told no tackling will be allowed once training resumes as part of a package of measures to protect people from the virus.
London mayor Sadiq Khan says it's "too early" to be discussing the resumption of the Premier League and other high-profile sports in the UK capital because the country is "still in the grips of this crisis, and hundreds of people (are) dying every day", the Evening Standard reported, citing a spokesman for the mayor.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are among the five Premier League clubs in London.
The possibility of games resuming next month got a boost after the government said elite-level sport could resume behind closed doors from June 1.
Teams have been told no tackling will be allowed once training resumes as part of a package of measures to protect people from the virus.
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Footballers should be allowed to choose whether it is right for them to return to playing, Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Clayton has said.
Clayton's father Steve spent 51 days in intensive care with Covid-19.
Football in England is currently suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Ultimately I think it will end up with the players making the decision whether they feel right to do it or not," Clayton told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"They're talking about testing every day and I think a bit more will be said in the next couple of weeks.
"It's a real tough one. There's nobody who wants to be out on the pitch more than me - I've missed it like you wouldn't believe. It's what we have done since we were kids.
"I don't think the fear in football is the players contracting it ourselves, although it could still have damaging effects. It's more if I go to work and bring it back to my baby daughter or my dad, that's the worry I'd have."
Unlike the Premier League, which has 'Project Restart' in place, there is not presently a model for clubs in the English Football League to resume playing.
On Tuesday, it was reported that tackling will be banned, pitches disinfected and players restricted to groups of five when Premier League players do return to training.
'Doctors and nurses never gave up on him'
Clayton said seeing the video of his dad leaving intensive care at North Manchester General Hospital had "brought a tear to my eye".
At one point, the former Leeds and Huddersfield player had been told his father, who had underlying health problems, had a less than 50% chance of surviving.
"There were days where you thought you were going to get the worst news. Somehow he managed to stick in there and the doctors and nurses never gave up on him," he added.
The 31-year-old said not being able to see his mother because of self-isolating rules had made the experience even harder.
"I couldn't go round and give my mum a cuddle and she's only got my younger brother in the house so she's just been alone thinking about it all day, every day," he added.
"I've got a newborn so that's made it better for me because I've constantly had to attend to her but it's been murder for my mum.
"It's not a nice situation because you can't speak to them and you're just getting updates off the medical team and they can't bring you good news if it's not good news. It's really tough for the person whose loved one is in there."
Clayton's father Steve spent 51 days in intensive care with Covid-19.
Football in England is currently suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Ultimately I think it will end up with the players making the decision whether they feel right to do it or not," Clayton told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"They're talking about testing every day and I think a bit more will be said in the next couple of weeks.
"It's a real tough one. There's nobody who wants to be out on the pitch more than me - I've missed it like you wouldn't believe. It's what we have done since we were kids.
"I don't think the fear in football is the players contracting it ourselves, although it could still have damaging effects. It's more if I go to work and bring it back to my baby daughter or my dad, that's the worry I'd have."
Unlike the Premier League, which has 'Project Restart' in place, there is not presently a model for clubs in the English Football League to resume playing.
On Tuesday, it was reported that tackling will be banned, pitches disinfected and players restricted to groups of five when Premier League players do return to training.
'Doctors and nurses never gave up on him'
Clayton said seeing the video of his dad leaving intensive care at North Manchester General Hospital had "brought a tear to my eye".
At one point, the former Leeds and Huddersfield player had been told his father, who had underlying health problems, had a less than 50% chance of surviving.
"There were days where you thought you were going to get the worst news. Somehow he managed to stick in there and the doctors and nurses never gave up on him," he added.
The 31-year-old said not being able to see his mother because of self-isolating rules had made the experience even harder.
"I couldn't go round and give my mum a cuddle and she's only got my younger brother in the house so she's just been alone thinking about it all day, every day," he added.
"I've got a newborn so that's made it better for me because I've constantly had to attend to her but it's been murder for my mum.
"It's not a nice situation because you can't speak to them and you're just getting updates off the medical team and they can't bring you good news if it's not good news. It's really tough for the person whose loved one is in there."
Rana
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IMO, football should have been called off and they should focus entirely on 2020/21 August restart with 70% crowed attendance
A lot of this drama just to play 7-8 remaining games is so pathetic.
A lot of this drama just to play 7-8 remaining games is so pathetic.
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Norwich City say relegation from the Premier League should be scrapped if the top flight completes its season but the Championship does not.
Premier League clubs met on Monday to to continue talks on 'Project Restart' but doing away with relegation has not yet been discussed.
The league is aiming to return by 12 June, with the Canaries bottom of the table and six points from safety.
Championship clubs are due to meet on Wednesday after an EFL board meeting.
"What we could not accept is a situation where we play all our games and get relegated, but the Championship can't play, and they automatically promote some teams who haven't finished the season," Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber told Sky Sports.
"For anyone who has got promoted from the Championship, it is a 46- or 49-game slog. It needs to be settled on the pitch - both coming up and going down."
Premier League clubs met on Monday to to continue talks on 'Project Restart' but doing away with relegation has not yet been discussed.
The league is aiming to return by 12 June, with the Canaries bottom of the table and six points from safety.
Championship clubs are due to meet on Wednesday after an EFL board meeting.
"What we could not accept is a situation where we play all our games and get relegated, but the Championship can't play, and they automatically promote some teams who haven't finished the season," Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber told Sky Sports.
"For anyone who has got promoted from the Championship, it is a 46- or 49-game slog. It needs to be settled on the pitch - both coming up and going down."
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Premier League players and managers were told that everything is being done to make sure they are not at risk when they are due to return to training next week.
At two separate video conference meetings on Wednesday, players and managers were presented with the medical and testing protocols for the phased return of training.
They were taken through the stages by the Premier League's medical officer Mark Gillett and medical expert Professor James Calder, chief executive Richard Masters and director of football Richard Garlick.
Players will be tested at least twice a week, including in the 48 hours before they are due to train, and have mini-medicals to check for underlying respiratory and cardiac issues before they return to training.
Managers were told all team and coach meetings will continue to be done by videoconference and all data and video recordings of training sessions are to be made available to the Premier League.
Some players raised concerns about the health of their families and some are reluctant to return because they have pregnant partners or family members with medical conditions living with them.
All players have been given a 40-page document on training protocols, and each club was represented on the videoconference meeting by their captain.
Some club PFA representatives were also in the meeting. Club captains that attended the meeting include Jordan Henderson, Harry Maguire, Cesar Azpilicueta, Mark Noble, and Troy Deeney.
https://www.skysports.com/football/...ssures-managers-over-risks-of-training-return
At two separate video conference meetings on Wednesday, players and managers were presented with the medical and testing protocols for the phased return of training.
They were taken through the stages by the Premier League's medical officer Mark Gillett and medical expert Professor James Calder, chief executive Richard Masters and director of football Richard Garlick.
Players will be tested at least twice a week, including in the 48 hours before they are due to train, and have mini-medicals to check for underlying respiratory and cardiac issues before they return to training.
Managers were told all team and coach meetings will continue to be done by videoconference and all data and video recordings of training sessions are to be made available to the Premier League.
Some players raised concerns about the health of their families and some are reluctant to return because they have pregnant partners or family members with medical conditions living with them.
All players have been given a 40-page document on training protocols, and each club was represented on the videoconference meeting by their captain.
Some club PFA representatives were also in the meeting. Club captains that attended the meeting include Jordan Henderson, Harry Maguire, Cesar Azpilicueta, Mark Noble, and Troy Deeney.
https://www.skysports.com/football/...ssures-managers-over-risks-of-training-return
Abdullah719
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Jose Mourinho denies he wants to delay Premier League's 'Project Restart'
Jose Mourinho has denied reports he has attempted to delay the Premier League's 'Project Restart'.
It was claimed Tottenham head coach Mourinho voiced his concerns over the proposal to resume football next month, during a meeting with other Premier League managers on Wednesday.
https://www.skysports.com/football/...ants-to-delay-premier-leagues-project-restart
Jose Mourinho has denied reports he has attempted to delay the Premier League's 'Project Restart'.
It was claimed Tottenham head coach Mourinho voiced his concerns over the proposal to resume football next month, during a meeting with other Premier League managers on Wednesday.
However, the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager has hit back at those reports and insists he is "desperate" for football to return "as soon as it is safe".
"I don't think my position in the meeting has been reflected fairly at all today in media reports. I have not asked for any delay," Mourinho said, in a statement released by Tottenham.
"I want to train, and I am desperate for the Premier League to return as soon as it is safe to do so, particularly now we are seeing other leagues preparing to return to action.
"I am extremely proud of the way my players have maintained their fitness - they have shown great professionalism, passion and dedication.
"We have all been working extremely hard through remote squad training sessions and isolated running now the pitches are available to use again at the training centre.
"Every player has been extremely committed in terms of their individual work and now we wait for clearance to commence working in small groups again, which I will fully support."
"I don't think my position in the meeting has been reflected fairly at all today in media reports. I have not asked for any delay," Mourinho said, in a statement released by Tottenham.
"I want to train, and I am desperate for the Premier League to return as soon as it is safe to do so, particularly now we are seeing other leagues preparing to return to action.
"I am extremely proud of the way my players have maintained their fitness - they have shown great professionalism, passion and dedication.
"We have all been working extremely hard through remote squad training sessions and isolated running now the pitches are available to use again at the training centre.
"Every player has been extremely committed in terms of their individual work and now we wait for clearance to commence working in small groups again, which I will fully support."
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Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, says the government is "opening the door" for football to return in June.
Dowden hosted a meeting with football authorities on Thursday and says: "We all agreed that we will only go ahead if it is safe to do so and the health and welfare of players, coaches and staff comes first.
"The government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June. This should include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game's resumption supports the wider football family.
.
"It is now up to the football authorities to agree and finalise the detail of their plans, and there is combined goodwill to achieve this for their fans, the football community and the nation as a whole. The government and our medical experts will continue to offer guidance and support to the game ahead of any final decision which would put these plans into action."
https://www.skysports.com/football/...ernment-supports-plans-for-football-to-return
Dowden hosted a meeting with football authorities on Thursday and says: "We all agreed that we will only go ahead if it is safe to do so and the health and welfare of players, coaches and staff comes first.
"The government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June. This should include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game's resumption supports the wider football family.
.
"It is now up to the football authorities to agree and finalise the detail of their plans, and there is combined goodwill to achieve this for their fans, the football community and the nation as a whole. The government and our medical experts will continue to offer guidance and support to the game ahead of any final decision which would put these plans into action."
https://www.skysports.com/football/...ernment-supports-plans-for-football-to-return
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The Premier League has been told by the government it must show some matches on free-to-air TV and put more money into the Football League and grassroots game as a condition for restarting this season.
The demands were made by the culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, at a meeting on Thursday at which he gave the go-ahead for matches to resume provided it is safe to do so.
“The government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June,” Dowden said. “This should include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game’s resumption supports the wider football family.”
“It is now up to the football authorities to agree and finalise the detail of their plans, and there is combined goodwill to achieve this for their fans, the football community and the nation as a whole. The government and our medical experts will continue to offer guidance and support to the game ahead of any final decision which would put these plans into action.”
The Premier League is in negotiations with its broadcast partners Sky and BT over finding a way of showing some matches free-to-air if and when the season resumes. The government’s preferred solution is that the remaining 45 matches not already covered under the terms of existing TV deals are shown either on freely accessible TV channels or via a streaming platform such as YouTube.
The government has also instructed the league to factor ‘solidarity payments’ into any final reckoning should the season be completed. Broadcasters have demanded a rebate from the Premier League even if they are able to screen their full complement of matches, because of subscribers lost owing to the current postponement of the season and because the league has not been able to deliver the product as promised. The DCMS has asked, however, that a tranche of any remaining TV money received should in part be shared with the rest of the football pyramid.
The precise amount of any sum is yet to be determined and although the government has asked football to find a solution themselves, this may not prove straightforward. The EFL is understood to expect an extra one-off payment, a contribution towards filling the potential £200m black hole in club finances it faces by September. Sources at the Premier League, meanwhile, suggest they see the government’s request as being about ensuring that funds owed under current solidarity arrangements are made available.
Rows over broadcast revenue are hardly new and other concerns are taking precedence. The immediate hurdle, well before any matches can be played, is enabling players to return to training after two months away from the field. The EFL and Premier League have devised medical protocols that conform with new government advice on training for elite athletes. The Premier League hopes to convince its 20 shareholder clubs to give their assent in a vote on Monday.
The outcome of the vote is not guaranteed, following a series of meetings on Wednesday between players, club managers and officials. Some of the players – the influential Watford captain Troy Deeney among them – are understood to have left the meeting feeling concerns over safety had not been resolved, and managers are believed to have asked for any pre-resumption training period to be longer than the three weeks budgeted for in the Premier League’s Project Restart plans. Managers and players will this week feed their thoughts back to clubs before the vote.
If the protocols are passed, players would be allowed to train in groups while observing social distancing. Any contact training, a vital component in preparing for matches, would be allowed only following new protocols and further government advice.
Tottenham’s manager, José Mourinho, said: “I want to train and I am desperate for the Premier League to return as soon as it’s safe to do so, particularly now as we are seeing other leagues preparing to return to action.”
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...r-games-and-share-money-to-restart-government
The demands were made by the culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, at a meeting on Thursday at which he gave the go-ahead for matches to resume provided it is safe to do so.
“The government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June,” Dowden said. “This should include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game’s resumption supports the wider football family.”
“It is now up to the football authorities to agree and finalise the detail of their plans, and there is combined goodwill to achieve this for their fans, the football community and the nation as a whole. The government and our medical experts will continue to offer guidance and support to the game ahead of any final decision which would put these plans into action.”
The Premier League is in negotiations with its broadcast partners Sky and BT over finding a way of showing some matches free-to-air if and when the season resumes. The government’s preferred solution is that the remaining 45 matches not already covered under the terms of existing TV deals are shown either on freely accessible TV channels or via a streaming platform such as YouTube.
The government has also instructed the league to factor ‘solidarity payments’ into any final reckoning should the season be completed. Broadcasters have demanded a rebate from the Premier League even if they are able to screen their full complement of matches, because of subscribers lost owing to the current postponement of the season and because the league has not been able to deliver the product as promised. The DCMS has asked, however, that a tranche of any remaining TV money received should in part be shared with the rest of the football pyramid.
The precise amount of any sum is yet to be determined and although the government has asked football to find a solution themselves, this may not prove straightforward. The EFL is understood to expect an extra one-off payment, a contribution towards filling the potential £200m black hole in club finances it faces by September. Sources at the Premier League, meanwhile, suggest they see the government’s request as being about ensuring that funds owed under current solidarity arrangements are made available.
Rows over broadcast revenue are hardly new and other concerns are taking precedence. The immediate hurdle, well before any matches can be played, is enabling players to return to training after two months away from the field. The EFL and Premier League have devised medical protocols that conform with new government advice on training for elite athletes. The Premier League hopes to convince its 20 shareholder clubs to give their assent in a vote on Monday.
The outcome of the vote is not guaranteed, following a series of meetings on Wednesday between players, club managers and officials. Some of the players – the influential Watford captain Troy Deeney among them – are understood to have left the meeting feeling concerns over safety had not been resolved, and managers are believed to have asked for any pre-resumption training period to be longer than the three weeks budgeted for in the Premier League’s Project Restart plans. Managers and players will this week feed their thoughts back to clubs before the vote.
If the protocols are passed, players would be allowed to train in groups while observing social distancing. Any contact training, a vital component in preparing for matches, would be allowed only following new protocols and further government advice.
Tottenham’s manager, José Mourinho, said: “I want to train and I am desperate for the Premier League to return as soon as it’s safe to do so, particularly now as we are seeing other leagues preparing to return to action.”
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...r-games-and-share-money-to-restart-government
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The Watford manager, Nigel Pearson, has raised the possibility of a coronavirus-related death should the Premier League season resume too quickly.
English top-flight teams could return to some type of training next week following a Premier League meeting on Monday where medical protocols will be voted on and there are plans to get matches going again by mid-June.
Pearson, however, has doubts about “Project Restart” with much of Britain still in lockdown due to Covid-19.
“God forbid we have a fatality,” he told the Times. “People are closing their eyes to the threat. Yes, we would like to restart it but it’s got to be safe. We should be cautious. To ignore possibilities is foolhardy. It’s about safeguarding people’s health.”
Pearson, whose Watford side are just above the relegation zone on goal difference alone, added: “We have to try to believe [the British government] advice that we’re being given that we’ve reached the peak but there’s still an incredible number of people losing their lives through this.
“The death toll in the UK is anything between 33,000 and 38,000. That’s filling our stadium and then filling it half again. It’s a sobering thought.”
English top-flight teams could return to some type of training next week following a Premier League meeting on Monday where medical protocols will be voted on and there are plans to get matches going again by mid-June.
Pearson, however, has doubts about “Project Restart” with much of Britain still in lockdown due to Covid-19.
“God forbid we have a fatality,” he told the Times. “People are closing their eyes to the threat. Yes, we would like to restart it but it’s got to be safe. We should be cautious. To ignore possibilities is foolhardy. It’s about safeguarding people’s health.”
Pearson, whose Watford side are just above the relegation zone on goal difference alone, added: “We have to try to believe [the British government] advice that we’re being given that we’ve reached the peak but there’s still an incredible number of people losing their lives through this.
“The death toll in the UK is anything between 33,000 and 38,000. That’s filling our stadium and then filling it half again. It’s a sobering thought.”
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The Premier League's bid to restart the season in June is in danger of being derailed by a heated debate between players about the risks of playing amid the coronavirus crisis. While Premier League chiefs believe completing the campaign is essential to safeguard the financial and sporting future of the game, some stars are not so convinced.
AFP Sport looks at both sides of the row:
"I'm not going to put my family at risk"
Watford captain Troy Deeney has been one of the loudest voices against returning to the pitch so soon.
Although the Premier League has agreed to fund regular testing for players and staff, there is no guarantee of keeping the virus at bay while vaccine trials remain in the early stages.
Adding to Deeney's concern, black and ethnic minorities are statistically more at risk of dying from the virus, leaving him adamant he will not gamble with his family's life just to satisfy the desire for football to resume.
"I'm not even talking about football at the moment. I'm talking about my family's health," Deeney said on Instagram.
"I'm not going to put my family at risk. What are they going to do, take money off me? I've been broke before so it doesn't bother me.
"They're talking about not playing in front of fans until 2021. So if it's not safe enough for fans to be inside a stadium, why should it be safe for players to be in there?"
Critics of Deeney's view have noted that Watford were just outside the relegation zone on goal difference when the season was halted, so his club would clearly benefit from the season being abandoned.
But Manchester City stars Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling have also raised concerns about restarting, while Newcastle's Danny Rose, on loan from Tottenham, launched a furious rant about the situation.
"Government is saying 'bring football back' because it is going to boost the nation's morale. I don't care about the nation's morale, bro, people's lives are at risk," he said.
"Football shouldn't even be spoke about coming back until the numbers have dropped massively."
Like Deeney and other Premier League skippers, Norwich City captain Grant Hanley took part in a conference call with the Premier League this week that reportedly saw numerous disagreements.
"I think the overall feeling is that players have got concerns. There's just so much uncertainty," Hanley told Sky Sports.
"Every team and player has got different views on it. Ultimately it's putting your family at risk that is the main concern."
"Looking forward to playing again"
In contrast to the anger expressed by some of his peers, England captain Harry Kane has preached a more moderate attitude.
Tottenham striker Kane is ready to restart as long as player safety is the highest priority.
"I think the majority of players are looking forward to playing again as soon as possible but we know we want it to be as safe as possible too," Kane told British daytime TV show, Good Morning Britain.
"Me personally, I am happy to start training in small groups if that is allowed and just trying to get back to some normality as soon as possible. I guess everyone is different and has their own personal view."
Even those willing to play, like Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, have given their support with caveats.
Abraham's father has asthma and the England international does not want to put him in danger.
"To go out on the pitch is a big thing for me. But my dad is asthmatic and the last thing I need is to catch the virus myself or be in contact with anyone with the virus," Abraham said.
"The Premier League and the Government have to come to a decision on whether or not it's safe enough to play again and we take it on from there. I am ready to play tomorrow if it is safe."
Encapsulating the split in the ranks, former Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton claimed Deeney is acting out of self-interest.
Barton, who is manager of League One side Fleetwood, tweeted: "If Troy doesn't want to play or doesn't feel safe enough to, then that's his choice.
"Let's not kid ourselves about what is going on. Big money to be had in the Premier League, who wouldn't want another year of that towards the end of your career? Got to admire the opportunism.
"Squad on huge bonus for survival. No wonder they want it null and voided."
https://sports.ndtv.com/english-pre...ues-restart-plan-2229828?pfrom=footballwidget
AFP Sport looks at both sides of the row:
"I'm not going to put my family at risk"
Watford captain Troy Deeney has been one of the loudest voices against returning to the pitch so soon.
Although the Premier League has agreed to fund regular testing for players and staff, there is no guarantee of keeping the virus at bay while vaccine trials remain in the early stages.
Adding to Deeney's concern, black and ethnic minorities are statistically more at risk of dying from the virus, leaving him adamant he will not gamble with his family's life just to satisfy the desire for football to resume.
"I'm not even talking about football at the moment. I'm talking about my family's health," Deeney said on Instagram.
"I'm not going to put my family at risk. What are they going to do, take money off me? I've been broke before so it doesn't bother me.
"They're talking about not playing in front of fans until 2021. So if it's not safe enough for fans to be inside a stadium, why should it be safe for players to be in there?"
Critics of Deeney's view have noted that Watford were just outside the relegation zone on goal difference when the season was halted, so his club would clearly benefit from the season being abandoned.
But Manchester City stars Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling have also raised concerns about restarting, while Newcastle's Danny Rose, on loan from Tottenham, launched a furious rant about the situation.
"Government is saying 'bring football back' because it is going to boost the nation's morale. I don't care about the nation's morale, bro, people's lives are at risk," he said.
"Football shouldn't even be spoke about coming back until the numbers have dropped massively."
Like Deeney and other Premier League skippers, Norwich City captain Grant Hanley took part in a conference call with the Premier League this week that reportedly saw numerous disagreements.
"I think the overall feeling is that players have got concerns. There's just so much uncertainty," Hanley told Sky Sports.
"Every team and player has got different views on it. Ultimately it's putting your family at risk that is the main concern."
"Looking forward to playing again"
In contrast to the anger expressed by some of his peers, England captain Harry Kane has preached a more moderate attitude.
Tottenham striker Kane is ready to restart as long as player safety is the highest priority.
"I think the majority of players are looking forward to playing again as soon as possible but we know we want it to be as safe as possible too," Kane told British daytime TV show, Good Morning Britain.
"Me personally, I am happy to start training in small groups if that is allowed and just trying to get back to some normality as soon as possible. I guess everyone is different and has their own personal view."
Even those willing to play, like Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, have given their support with caveats.
Abraham's father has asthma and the England international does not want to put him in danger.
"To go out on the pitch is a big thing for me. But my dad is asthmatic and the last thing I need is to catch the virus myself or be in contact with anyone with the virus," Abraham said.
"The Premier League and the Government have to come to a decision on whether or not it's safe enough to play again and we take it on from there. I am ready to play tomorrow if it is safe."
Encapsulating the split in the ranks, former Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton claimed Deeney is acting out of self-interest.
Barton, who is manager of League One side Fleetwood, tweeted: "If Troy doesn't want to play or doesn't feel safe enough to, then that's his choice.
"Let's not kid ourselves about what is going on. Big money to be had in the Premier League, who wouldn't want another year of that towards the end of your career? Got to admire the opportunism.
"Squad on huge bonus for survival. No wonder they want it null and voided."
https://sports.ndtv.com/english-pre...ues-restart-plan-2229828?pfrom=footballwidget
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- Oct 2, 2004
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- 217,993
Premier League clubs hope to give their players the go-ahead to return to training in small groups this week.
But there is a growing feeling the intended 12 June date for matches to start again will need to be pushed back.
A vote is due to take place on training and medical protocols when the 20 top-flight clubs hold their next meeting on Monday morning.
If passed, players would be able to train in groups of five from Tuesday.
That would be on condition that they observe social distancing rules and adhere to a series of strict criteria, which include getting changed at home and driving to training grounds on their own.
At least 14 of the 20 clubs must agree that safety protocols are sufficient for the plan to be approved.
The government last week opened the door for the return of elite sport, but several hurdles remain before the Premier League can resume behind closed doors.
Clubs have been carrying out coronavirus testing this weekend to ensure there is no further delay, but a number of players - including Newcastle United defender Danny Rose and Watford skipper Troy Deeney - have expressed concerns about returning.
Players have been asked to sign waivers and it is understood the Professional Footballers' Association has offered to get the agreements legally checked if anyone is uncertain.
Club officials have been holding high-level meetings as the legal liability for any player who became seriously ill would fall on them.
It is anticipated a three-step return to action will be implemented. It is hoped to move into the second phase at the beginning of June, which would involve training in larger groups, before a return to contact training.
At the meeting on Monday, clubs will also be updated on talks with police and safety committees over the request to play matches at their own stadiums rather than at neutral grounds, as initially proposed.
They will also receive a report on the return of Germany's Bundesliga and will have been heartened to learn there were no instances of fans turning up at stadiums in significant numbers.
Megan Rapinoe and Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling spoke to United States international Megan Rapinoe in a Zoom chat that was broadcast on YouTube.
Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling said on Sunday that players would need a "full four to five weeks" of training before returning to competition.
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce had earlier told the Sunday Telegraph the timescale was "at least six weeks", adding: "I don't see how we can play games until the back end of June."
The Premier League is thought to be relaxed, viewing the restart as more important than the actual date.
It also knows that while Uefa hopes domestic leagues are completed by 31 July, there are spare days in August free from European competition to allow outstanding fixtures to be played.
What happens next?
18 May: Next Premier League meeting
19 May: Players may return to group training under socially distancing protocols
25 May: Uefa deadline for leagues to have finalised plan for restarting seasons
1 June: Government date for possible return of elite sport behind closed doors
12 June: Premier League aiming to return with first fixture
Further talks in the EFL
In addition to the Premier League meeting, League One clubs will hold further talks about how to proceed with their season after a meeting on Friday ended in deadlock.
Many clubs want the season to end now because of the costs involved but at least seven - including Peterborough, Sunderland, Ipswich and Portsmouth - want to continue.
They hope to have a plan to put before Wednesday's meeting of the EFL board, which will also have to assess League Two's proposals for terminating the season.
It is thought unlikely the request to not relegate anyone to the National League will be endorsed, with a number of Championship clubs making it clear they would not agree with any decision that undermines the concept of promotion to the Premier League.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52699654
But there is a growing feeling the intended 12 June date for matches to start again will need to be pushed back.
A vote is due to take place on training and medical protocols when the 20 top-flight clubs hold their next meeting on Monday morning.
If passed, players would be able to train in groups of five from Tuesday.
That would be on condition that they observe social distancing rules and adhere to a series of strict criteria, which include getting changed at home and driving to training grounds on their own.
At least 14 of the 20 clubs must agree that safety protocols are sufficient for the plan to be approved.
The government last week opened the door for the return of elite sport, but several hurdles remain before the Premier League can resume behind closed doors.
Clubs have been carrying out coronavirus testing this weekend to ensure there is no further delay, but a number of players - including Newcastle United defender Danny Rose and Watford skipper Troy Deeney - have expressed concerns about returning.
Players have been asked to sign waivers and it is understood the Professional Footballers' Association has offered to get the agreements legally checked if anyone is uncertain.
Club officials have been holding high-level meetings as the legal liability for any player who became seriously ill would fall on them.
It is anticipated a three-step return to action will be implemented. It is hoped to move into the second phase at the beginning of June, which would involve training in larger groups, before a return to contact training.
At the meeting on Monday, clubs will also be updated on talks with police and safety committees over the request to play matches at their own stadiums rather than at neutral grounds, as initially proposed.
They will also receive a report on the return of Germany's Bundesliga and will have been heartened to learn there were no instances of fans turning up at stadiums in significant numbers.
Megan Rapinoe and Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling spoke to United States international Megan Rapinoe in a Zoom chat that was broadcast on YouTube.
Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling said on Sunday that players would need a "full four to five weeks" of training before returning to competition.
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce had earlier told the Sunday Telegraph the timescale was "at least six weeks", adding: "I don't see how we can play games until the back end of June."
The Premier League is thought to be relaxed, viewing the restart as more important than the actual date.
It also knows that while Uefa hopes domestic leagues are completed by 31 July, there are spare days in August free from European competition to allow outstanding fixtures to be played.
What happens next?
18 May: Next Premier League meeting
19 May: Players may return to group training under socially distancing protocols
25 May: Uefa deadline for leagues to have finalised plan for restarting seasons
1 June: Government date for possible return of elite sport behind closed doors
12 June: Premier League aiming to return with first fixture
Further talks in the EFL
In addition to the Premier League meeting, League One clubs will hold further talks about how to proceed with their season after a meeting on Friday ended in deadlock.
Many clubs want the season to end now because of the costs involved but at least seven - including Peterborough, Sunderland, Ipswich and Portsmouth - want to continue.
They hope to have a plan to put before Wednesday's meeting of the EFL board, which will also have to assess League Two's proposals for terminating the season.
It is thought unlikely the request to not relegate anyone to the National League will be endorsed, with a number of Championship clubs making it clear they would not agree with any decision that undermines the concept of promotion to the Premier League.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52699654
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- Mar 19, 2015
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- 15,745
Project Restart: Premier League clubs allowed to train in small groups from Tuesday
Premier League clubs have agreed to stage one of the return to training protocols which allows teams to start training in small groups from Tuesday.
Clubs voted unanimously on the decision at Monday's "Project Restart" meeting.
Players must observe social distancing rules, and contact training is not permitted.
The first stage "has been agreed in consultation with players, managers, club doctors, independent experts and the government".
The Premier League statement added: "Strict medical protocols of the highest standard will ensure everyone returns to training in the safest environment possible.
"The health and wellbeing of all participants is the Premier League's priority, and the safe return to training is a step-by-step process.
"Full consultation will now continue with players, managers, clubs, the PFA and LMA as protocols for full-contact training are developed."
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52704450
Premier League clubs have agreed to stage one of the return to training protocols which allows teams to start training in small groups from Tuesday.
Clubs voted unanimously on the decision at Monday's "Project Restart" meeting.
Players must observe social distancing rules, and contact training is not permitted.
The first stage "has been agreed in consultation with players, managers, club doctors, independent experts and the government".
The Premier League statement added: "Strict medical protocols of the highest standard will ensure everyone returns to training in the safest environment possible.
"The health and wellbeing of all participants is the Premier League's priority, and the safe return to training is a step-by-step process.
"Full consultation will now continue with players, managers, clubs, the PFA and LMA as protocols for full-contact training are developed."
Official protocols sent to players and managers last week and obtained by the BBC revealed that corner-flags, balls, cones, goalposts and even playing surfaces will be disinfected after each training session.
Ongoing surveillance measures included in further guidance include twice-weekly testing and a daily pre-training questionnaire and temperature check.
Clubs have been carrying out coronavirus testing this weekend.
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce said the return to training will be "as safe as it can be", with players arriving in kit and wearing snoods during training.
"It's been a really difficult time, but I hope with the news that phase one is about to start - and I must stress that phase one looks as if it's as safe as it can be - I'm sure everyone will be delighted that we're trying to make that effort," he told NUFC TV.
"In phase one we're allowed to train four to five people on one pitch, so basically a player has a quarter of a pitch to work within, so social distancing is not a problem. We'll train with eight to 10 at a time on two separate pitches.
"Everything is in place in the safety aspect. I've got no issues and I can tell the supporters the players and the staff are as safe as we possibly can be. We all understand that this virus isn't going to go away just like that - it's going to hang around a bit, but I think with the protocols in place we'll do everything we possibly can to get up and running again."
What happens next?
19 May: Players may return to group training under social distancing protocols
25 May: Uefa deadline for leagues to have finalised plan for restarting seasons
1 June: Government date for possible return of elite sport behind closed doors
12 June: Premier League aiming to return with first fixture
Ongoing surveillance measures included in further guidance include twice-weekly testing and a daily pre-training questionnaire and temperature check.
Clubs have been carrying out coronavirus testing this weekend.
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce said the return to training will be "as safe as it can be", with players arriving in kit and wearing snoods during training.
"It's been a really difficult time, but I hope with the news that phase one is about to start - and I must stress that phase one looks as if it's as safe as it can be - I'm sure everyone will be delighted that we're trying to make that effort," he told NUFC TV.
"In phase one we're allowed to train four to five people on one pitch, so basically a player has a quarter of a pitch to work within, so social distancing is not a problem. We'll train with eight to 10 at a time on two separate pitches.
"Everything is in place in the safety aspect. I've got no issues and I can tell the supporters the players and the staff are as safe as we possibly can be. We all understand that this virus isn't going to go away just like that - it's going to hang around a bit, but I think with the protocols in place we'll do everything we possibly can to get up and running again."
What happens next?
19 May: Players may return to group training under social distancing protocols
25 May: Uefa deadline for leagues to have finalised plan for restarting seasons
1 June: Government date for possible return of elite sport behind closed doors
12 June: Premier League aiming to return with first fixture
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- Oct 2, 2004
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England's Premier League football clubs have been given the green light to begin non-contact training in small groups from today but could face surprise inspections to ensure they adhere to new safety guidance.
GPS tracking and video analysis are also being considered, with the Premier League eventually aiming to have an inspector at every training ground.
"That will enable us to give confidence the protocols are being complied with," said Richard Garlick, the league's director of football.
"We are looking at bringing in our own independent audit inspection team that we'll scale up over the next few days which will give us the ability to have inspections at training grounds to start with on a no-notice basis."
GPS tracking and video analysis are also being considered, with the Premier League eventually aiming to have an inspector at every training ground.
"That will enable us to give confidence the protocols are being complied with," said Richard Garlick, the league's director of football.
"We are looking at bringing in our own independent audit inspection team that we'll scale up over the next few days which will give us the ability to have inspections at training grounds to start with on a no-notice basis."
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- Runs
- 217,993
Watford captain Troy Deeney says he will not return to training because he fears for his family's health amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Premier League teams are starting non-contact training from Tuesday.
Deeney does not want to put his baby, who has had breathing difficulties, "in more danger" and has raised concerns over the increased risk to black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) players.
"We're due back in this week, I've said I'm not going in," Deeney, 31, said.
Watford are not due to train on Tuesday and it is understood the club do not have a problem with Deeney's stance.
In an interview with The Times at the weekend, manager Nigel Pearson expressed his own concerns about the situation and said he would not insist on players reporting for training.
Speaking to Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew on Talk the Talk YouTube show, Deeney added: "It only takes one person to get infected within the group and I don't want to be bringing that home.
"My son is only five months old, he had breathing difficulties, so I don't want to come home to put him in more danger."
The Office for National Statistics says black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from coronavirus as white people in England and Wales.
Last Wednesday, Deeney was in a meeting with the Premier League, other team captains and medical experts.
He said: "My problem was in the meeting, I asked very simple questions.
"For black, Asian and mixed ethnicities, they're four times more likely to get the illness, they're twice as likely to have long lasting illnesses - is there anything extra, additional screening, heart stuff to see if people have got problems with that? No. OK, well I feel that should be addressed.
"I can't get a haircut until mid-July but I can go and get in a box with 19 people and go and jump for a header and nobody could answer the questions, not because they didn't want to, just because they don't know the information.
"So I said if you don't know the information, why would I put myself at risk?"
At Monday's meeting, Premier League clubs agreed to stage one of the return-to-training protocols. As well as training being restricted to groups of no more than five, sessions must last no longer than 75 minutes for each player. Social distancing must be adhered to.
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce said the league had been "meticulous" over the protocols and "done everything they possibly can to make sure that everything is safe" for the return to training.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "The vast majority of our squad have seen it and are satisfied. But everybody's personal circumstances are different. You could have a pregnant wife at home or you could have a sick mother-in-law or whatever. We'd have to respect them."
Premier League teams are starting non-contact training from Tuesday.
Deeney does not want to put his baby, who has had breathing difficulties, "in more danger" and has raised concerns over the increased risk to black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) players.
"We're due back in this week, I've said I'm not going in," Deeney, 31, said.
Watford are not due to train on Tuesday and it is understood the club do not have a problem with Deeney's stance.
In an interview with The Times at the weekend, manager Nigel Pearson expressed his own concerns about the situation and said he would not insist on players reporting for training.
Speaking to Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew on Talk the Talk YouTube show, Deeney added: "It only takes one person to get infected within the group and I don't want to be bringing that home.
"My son is only five months old, he had breathing difficulties, so I don't want to come home to put him in more danger."
The Office for National Statistics says black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from coronavirus as white people in England and Wales.
Last Wednesday, Deeney was in a meeting with the Premier League, other team captains and medical experts.
He said: "My problem was in the meeting, I asked very simple questions.
"For black, Asian and mixed ethnicities, they're four times more likely to get the illness, they're twice as likely to have long lasting illnesses - is there anything extra, additional screening, heart stuff to see if people have got problems with that? No. OK, well I feel that should be addressed.
"I can't get a haircut until mid-July but I can go and get in a box with 19 people and go and jump for a header and nobody could answer the questions, not because they didn't want to, just because they don't know the information.
"So I said if you don't know the information, why would I put myself at risk?"
At Monday's meeting, Premier League clubs agreed to stage one of the return-to-training protocols. As well as training being restricted to groups of no more than five, sessions must last no longer than 75 minutes for each player. Social distancing must be adhered to.
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce said the league had been "meticulous" over the protocols and "done everything they possibly can to make sure that everything is safe" for the return to training.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "The vast majority of our squad have seen it and are satisfied. But everybody's personal circumstances are different. You could have a pregnant wife at home or you could have a sick mother-in-law or whatever. We'd have to respect them."
Rana
Hall of Famer
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- Jan 18, 2006
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- 85,941
Not sure why this joker gets any coverage at all.
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- Mar 19, 2015
- Runs
- 15,745
Because he's the captain of a Premier League club offering his opinion on the restart of the league perhaps? He's a very well respected footballer and human being around the country, so it's sad you'll write him off as a "joker" because he's scared of bringing home a lung-attacking disease in the midst of a worldwide pandemic to a 5 month old son with breathing difficulties.
Is there really anything inherently wrong with what he's saying? He's raising a geniune risk out of the fear of his and his family's health. Some people are allowed to have different views than you, especially when raising them in a calm and thoughtful manner. Is everyone who disagrees with you a joker who deserves no coverage?
Rana
Hall of Famer
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- Jan 18, 2006
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- 85,941
Watford are about to get relegated and he wants to jump ship now? Surely he can afford to isolate from his family as a matter of work commitment? This isn’t recreational football we are talking about here.
Troy Deeney being well respected is not something that Arsenal fans would agree with at all. He has disrespected that club many times in the past. So yes, as an Arsenal fan I have always seen this clown as a joker. This is nothing personal to his family’s predicament, but a professional sportsman and that too the captain of a club on the brink of relegation needs to man up and make arrangements for his family to be shielded, whilst getting back on the field and shielding his club from relegation.
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I agree as an Arsenal fan, he has said a few disparaging things about the club (though I can only think of the "cojones" incident), but many Arsenal fans also would've thought deep down that what he was saying was painfully true, he was just speaking his mind in a blunt manner, something a lot of people admire about a certain world leader. Besides, we put him in his place when he came to the Emirates and rightfully so. Even still, if you take the time to read what he's said about that and after that, he has been quite honest and respectful, and he's quick to praise us and our players too. Think we can just move on from that now. Anyway, that's a discussion for another time.
Just because his team is on the brink of relegation doesn't mean his comments are invalid, and I'm not sure what you mean by "he wants to jump ship now" either, he's just saying he doesn't want to go back to training now? Watford might still get relegated regardless of his decision. And I don't think you can make comments about his family situation without knowledge. Isolating from your family for 3 months is easier said than done, and maybe he's unable to for whatever reason, his wife might be unable to look after the children for 3 months on her own, there could be many reasons but we don't know, so commenting on it doesn't make sense.
Besides, the point stands, if the best scientific evidence suggests that it isn't safe for society to return then footballers are allowed to be a little hesitant and fearful of returning to work in a job involving physical close-quarter contact like theirs. I understand the skepticism, but just because Watford are nearing relegation doesn't make his point invalid. Doesn't make him a clown either for being more fearful than you.
Abdullah719
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: The Premier League has confirmed six positive tests for coronavirus from three clubs after first phase of mass testing</p>— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1262761863743279104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Abdullah719
T20I Captain
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There were six positive tests for coronavirus across three Premier League clubs on Sunday and Monday, as the top flight prepares to resume in June.
The unnamed players or staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for seven days.
A total of 748 players and staff from 19 clubs were tested. The remaining club did their tests on Tuesday so will be included in Saturday's results.
Squads are starting non-contact training from Tuesday.
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 92 fixtures remaining.
Coronavirus and sport - Premier League players return to training
The league had previously identified 12 June for matches to possibly start again, but there is now an expectation this will need to be pushed back.
"The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency," it said in a statement.
"No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the league and results will be made public in this way after each round of testing."
Clubs were permitted to test up to 40 personnel and some did not use their full allocation, while some samples are still to be processed.
At Monday's "Project Restart" meeting, English top-flight clubs agreed to stage one of the return-to-training protocols.
As well as training in small groups of no more than five, sessions must last no longer than 75 minutes for each player. Social distancing must be adhered to.
Official protocols sent to players and managers last week, and obtained by the BBC, revealed corner flags, balls, cones, goalposts and even playing surfaces will be disinfected after each training session.
Ongoing measures in further guidance include twice-weekly testing as well as a daily pre-training questionnaire and temperature check.
The German Bundesliga became the first major European football league to restart after the coronavirus shutdown when it resumed behind closed doors over the weekend.
It took the Bundesliga nearly five weeks from starting non-contact training to playing matches. After Monday's announcement by the Premier League, that timeframe would mean either 19 or 26 June for a potential restart.
Every team in Germany's top flight has been in quarantine, going from a hotel to their training ground for the week leading up to the restart.
On Monday, the Premier League's medical adviser Mark Gillett said that discussions will take place in the coming weeks over whether clubs would have to isolate in a hotel for 14 days before play resumes.
Testing 'does not impinge' on NHS
For the Premier League to complete the season, it could require about 40,000 privately conducted tests.
The tests are being carried out by digital health company Prenetics.
Avi Lasarow, chief executive of Prenetics EMEA (Europe Middle East Africa), told BBC Sport that "categorically" none of the tests the company will carry out for the Premier League could have been used by the NHS.
"We of course do not impinge or take away from any testing the NHS is doing," he said.
"All the tests are privately sourced, as well as the other areas of the supply chains, so they are definitely not taking away from the NHS.
"The government has an infrastructure capability which has been developed to scale up to mass testing volume. It is very clear that we can now see that happening and as an organisation if we were asked to provide additional services we would prioritise that."
Lasarow added that the tests are 98.8% accurate, which will improve with repeated testing of Premier League personnel, and that the company is able to turn around results in 48 hours.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52726278
The unnamed players or staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for seven days.
A total of 748 players and staff from 19 clubs were tested. The remaining club did their tests on Tuesday so will be included in Saturday's results.
Squads are starting non-contact training from Tuesday.
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 92 fixtures remaining.
Coronavirus and sport - Premier League players return to training
The league had previously identified 12 June for matches to possibly start again, but there is now an expectation this will need to be pushed back.
"The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency," it said in a statement.
"No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the league and results will be made public in this way after each round of testing."
Clubs were permitted to test up to 40 personnel and some did not use their full allocation, while some samples are still to be processed.
At Monday's "Project Restart" meeting, English top-flight clubs agreed to stage one of the return-to-training protocols.
As well as training in small groups of no more than five, sessions must last no longer than 75 minutes for each player. Social distancing must be adhered to.
Official protocols sent to players and managers last week, and obtained by the BBC, revealed corner flags, balls, cones, goalposts and even playing surfaces will be disinfected after each training session.
Ongoing measures in further guidance include twice-weekly testing as well as a daily pre-training questionnaire and temperature check.
The German Bundesliga became the first major European football league to restart after the coronavirus shutdown when it resumed behind closed doors over the weekend.
It took the Bundesliga nearly five weeks from starting non-contact training to playing matches. After Monday's announcement by the Premier League, that timeframe would mean either 19 or 26 June for a potential restart.
Every team in Germany's top flight has been in quarantine, going from a hotel to their training ground for the week leading up to the restart.
On Monday, the Premier League's medical adviser Mark Gillett said that discussions will take place in the coming weeks over whether clubs would have to isolate in a hotel for 14 days before play resumes.
Testing 'does not impinge' on NHS
For the Premier League to complete the season, it could require about 40,000 privately conducted tests.
The tests are being carried out by digital health company Prenetics.
Avi Lasarow, chief executive of Prenetics EMEA (Europe Middle East Africa), told BBC Sport that "categorically" none of the tests the company will carry out for the Premier League could have been used by the NHS.
"We of course do not impinge or take away from any testing the NHS is doing," he said.
"All the tests are privately sourced, as well as the other areas of the supply chains, so they are definitely not taking away from the NHS.
"The government has an infrastructure capability which has been developed to scale up to mass testing volume. It is very clear that we can now see that happening and as an organisation if we were asked to provide additional services we would prioritise that."
Lasarow added that the tests are 98.8% accurate, which will improve with repeated testing of Premier League personnel, and that the company is able to turn around results in 48 hours.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52726278
Last edited by a moderator:
The Viper
T20I Debutant
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2018
- Runs
- 6,865
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has backed the Premier League's plans for players to return to training this week.
Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,825
Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan has tested positive for coronavirus, the Premier League club has confirmed.
The Clarets' first-team squad and playing staff were all tested for Covid-19 at the weekend, before a return to training.
Woan, 52, will now self-isolate for a period of seven days.
The Clarets' first-team squad and playing staff were all tested for Covid-19 at the weekend, before a return to training.
Woan, 52, will now self-isolate for a period of seven days.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
One player and two staff at Watford and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan are among six positive Premier League tests for coronavirus.
The other two are at a third club, the details of which have not been revealed.
Players and staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for seven days.
It comes as squads started non-contact training on Tuesday, as the Premier League steps up plans for a restart.
A total of 748 players and staff from 19 clubs were tested. Norwich City did their tests on Tuesday.
Watford confirmed a player and two members of staff had tested positive but they would not be naming those involved as they had asked for medical confidentiality.
Before the news about Watford's positive tests emerged, captain Troy Deeney said he would not return to training because he feared for his family's health.
"We're due back in this week. I've said I'm not going in," Deeney, 31, told Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew on the Talk the Talk YouTube show.
"It only takes one person to get infected within the group and I don't want to be bringing that home.
"My son is only five months old. He had breathing difficulties, so I don't want to come home to put him in more danger."
Burnley said Woan was "asymptomatic" and "currently safe and well at home".
"He will remain in close communication with club personnel regarding his re-engagement in training once he is clear of the virus," the club added.
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 92 fixtures remaining.
Coronavirus and sport - Premier League players return to training
The league had previously identified 12 June for matches to possibly start again, but there is now an expectation this will need to be pushed back.
"The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency," it said in a statement.
"No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the league and results will be made public in this way after each round of testing."
Clubs were permitted to test up to 40 personnel and some did not use their full allocation, while some samples are still to be processed.
At Monday's "Project Restart" meeting, English top-flight clubs agreed to stage one of the return-to-training protocols.
As well as training in small groups of no more than five, sessions must last no longer than 75 minutes for each player. Social distancing must be adhered to.
Official protocols sent to players and managers last week, and obtained by the BBC, revealed corner flags, balls, cones, goalposts and even playing surfaces will be disinfected after each training session.
Ongoing measures in further guidance include twice-weekly testing as well as a daily pre-training questionnaire and temperature check.
Analysis
Dan Roan, BBC sports editor
While every case of coronavirus is, of course, a cause for concern, the Premier League will no doubt draw confidence from the fact that the number of positive tests revealed on Tuesday was as low as six.
In one sense, this is six too many. But, had it been significantly higher, it would have raised more serious questions over clubs' return to training. So, this is a boost to those hoping for a resumption of the season next month.
Last weekend, the Office for National Statistics suggested that one in 400 people had coronavirus outside hospitals and care homes, a rate of 0.25%.
Why the rate among the players and/or staff of the 19 Premier League clubs tested is higher at about 0.8% (so far) is unclear. By comparison, the Bundesliga recently recorded 10 positive results from 1,742 tests. But one should be wary of drawing too many conclusions from this first batch of tests.
With some players and managers having voiced their worries, and half of club medics feeling insufficiently consulted, further hurdles remain, especially when it comes to getting agreement over the protocols for full-contact training.
However, this is at least another small but important step for "Project Restart".
The German Bundesliga became the first major European football league to restart after the coronavirus shutdown when it resumed behind closed doors over the weekend.
It took the Bundesliga nearly five weeks from starting non-contact training to playing matches. After Monday's announcement by the Premier League, that timeframe would mean either 19 or 26 June for a potential restart in England.
Every team in Germany's top flight has been in quarantine, going from a hotel to their training ground for the week leading up to the restart.
On Monday, the Premier League's medical adviser Mark Gillett said discussions will take place in the coming weeks over whether clubs would have to isolate in a hotel for 14 days before play resumes.
'Bizarre, sterile and haunting' - what it was like inside one of Germany's 'ghost games'
Testing 'does not impinge' on NHS
For the Premier League to complete the season, it could require about 40,000 privately conducted tests.
The tests are being carried out by digital health company Prenetics.
Avi Lasarow, chief executive of Prenetics EMEA (Europe Middle East Africa), told BBC Sport that "categorically" none of the tests the company will carry out for the Premier League could have been used by the NHS.
"We of course do not impinge or take away from any testing the NHS is doing," he said.
"All the tests are privately sourced, as well as the other areas of the supply chains, so they are definitely not taking away from the NHS.
"The government has an infrastructure capability which has been developed to scale up to mass testing volume. It is very clear that we can now see that happening and as an organisation if we were asked to provide additional services we would prioritise that."
Lasarow added that the tests are 98.8% accurate, which will improve with repeated testing of Premier League personnel, and that the company is able to turn around results in 48 hours.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52726278
The other two are at a third club, the details of which have not been revealed.
Players and staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for seven days.
It comes as squads started non-contact training on Tuesday, as the Premier League steps up plans for a restart.
A total of 748 players and staff from 19 clubs were tested. Norwich City did their tests on Tuesday.
Watford confirmed a player and two members of staff had tested positive but they would not be naming those involved as they had asked for medical confidentiality.
Before the news about Watford's positive tests emerged, captain Troy Deeney said he would not return to training because he feared for his family's health.
"We're due back in this week. I've said I'm not going in," Deeney, 31, told Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew on the Talk the Talk YouTube show.
"It only takes one person to get infected within the group and I don't want to be bringing that home.
"My son is only five months old. He had breathing difficulties, so I don't want to come home to put him in more danger."
Burnley said Woan was "asymptomatic" and "currently safe and well at home".
"He will remain in close communication with club personnel regarding his re-engagement in training once he is clear of the virus," the club added.
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 92 fixtures remaining.
Coronavirus and sport - Premier League players return to training
The league had previously identified 12 June for matches to possibly start again, but there is now an expectation this will need to be pushed back.
"The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency," it said in a statement.
"No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the league and results will be made public in this way after each round of testing."
Clubs were permitted to test up to 40 personnel and some did not use their full allocation, while some samples are still to be processed.
At Monday's "Project Restart" meeting, English top-flight clubs agreed to stage one of the return-to-training protocols.
As well as training in small groups of no more than five, sessions must last no longer than 75 minutes for each player. Social distancing must be adhered to.
Official protocols sent to players and managers last week, and obtained by the BBC, revealed corner flags, balls, cones, goalposts and even playing surfaces will be disinfected after each training session.
Ongoing measures in further guidance include twice-weekly testing as well as a daily pre-training questionnaire and temperature check.
Analysis
Dan Roan, BBC sports editor
While every case of coronavirus is, of course, a cause for concern, the Premier League will no doubt draw confidence from the fact that the number of positive tests revealed on Tuesday was as low as six.
In one sense, this is six too many. But, had it been significantly higher, it would have raised more serious questions over clubs' return to training. So, this is a boost to those hoping for a resumption of the season next month.
Last weekend, the Office for National Statistics suggested that one in 400 people had coronavirus outside hospitals and care homes, a rate of 0.25%.
Why the rate among the players and/or staff of the 19 Premier League clubs tested is higher at about 0.8% (so far) is unclear. By comparison, the Bundesliga recently recorded 10 positive results from 1,742 tests. But one should be wary of drawing too many conclusions from this first batch of tests.
With some players and managers having voiced their worries, and half of club medics feeling insufficiently consulted, further hurdles remain, especially when it comes to getting agreement over the protocols for full-contact training.
However, this is at least another small but important step for "Project Restart".
The German Bundesliga became the first major European football league to restart after the coronavirus shutdown when it resumed behind closed doors over the weekend.
It took the Bundesliga nearly five weeks from starting non-contact training to playing matches. After Monday's announcement by the Premier League, that timeframe would mean either 19 or 26 June for a potential restart in England.
Every team in Germany's top flight has been in quarantine, going from a hotel to their training ground for the week leading up to the restart.
On Monday, the Premier League's medical adviser Mark Gillett said discussions will take place in the coming weeks over whether clubs would have to isolate in a hotel for 14 days before play resumes.
'Bizarre, sterile and haunting' - what it was like inside one of Germany's 'ghost games'
Testing 'does not impinge' on NHS
For the Premier League to complete the season, it could require about 40,000 privately conducted tests.
The tests are being carried out by digital health company Prenetics.
Avi Lasarow, chief executive of Prenetics EMEA (Europe Middle East Africa), told BBC Sport that "categorically" none of the tests the company will carry out for the Premier League could have been used by the NHS.
"We of course do not impinge or take away from any testing the NHS is doing," he said.
"All the tests are privately sourced, as well as the other areas of the supply chains, so they are definitely not taking away from the NHS.
"The government has an infrastructure capability which has been developed to scale up to mass testing volume. It is very clear that we can now see that happening and as an organisation if we were asked to provide additional services we would prioritise that."
Lasarow added that the tests are 98.8% accurate, which will improve with repeated testing of Premier League personnel, and that the company is able to turn around results in 48 hours.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52726278
Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,825
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Adrian Mariappa has revealed he is the Watford player who tested positive for coronavirus.</p>— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1263106739433504769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,825
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tottenham are investigating after Serge Aurier appeared to break social distancing rules for a third time by getting a haircut in lockdown.</p>— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1263087250017050624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
Danny Rose believes Premier League footballers are being treated like "lab rats" in Project Restart.
The Tottenham defender, currently on loan at Newcastle, has criticised the decision to allow training to resume in the top flight, after testing revealed six positive coronavirus cases on Tuesday.
A number of Premier League players have voiced their concerns over the plan to restart the season next month and Rose believes footballers are risking their health by returning to training.
Speaking on the Lockdown Tactics podcast, Rose said: "I'm dying to get back to football but just with the things that are happening right now, people are going through this coronavirus pandemic a lot worse than me, I don't want to be complaining about everything.
"Just off the fact that people are suggesting we should go back to football, like we're guinea pigs or lab rats. We're going to experiment this phase and see if it works or not.
"I can just imagine people at home saying, 'Well they earn that amount of money so they should be going back'.
"For stuff like that I think is it worth the hassle? I could be potentially risking my health for people's entertainment and that's not something I want to be involved in if I'm honest."
A Watford player and two members of non-playing staff were among the six positive tests for coronavirus in the first round of Premier League testing.
The club confirmed the news on Tuesday evening after Burnley had earlier said assistant manager Ian Woan tested positive on Sunday.
Watford captain Troy Deeney has refused to return to training amid concerns for his son's health and the potentially increased risk to BAME players.
"We're due back in this week. I've said I'm not going in. It's nothing to do with financial gain," Deeney said on Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew's Talk The Talk podcast.
https://www.skysports.com/football/...eing-treated-like-lab-rats-in-project-restart
The Tottenham defender, currently on loan at Newcastle, has criticised the decision to allow training to resume in the top flight, after testing revealed six positive coronavirus cases on Tuesday.
A number of Premier League players have voiced their concerns over the plan to restart the season next month and Rose believes footballers are risking their health by returning to training.
Speaking on the Lockdown Tactics podcast, Rose said: "I'm dying to get back to football but just with the things that are happening right now, people are going through this coronavirus pandemic a lot worse than me, I don't want to be complaining about everything.
"Just off the fact that people are suggesting we should go back to football, like we're guinea pigs or lab rats. We're going to experiment this phase and see if it works or not.
"I can just imagine people at home saying, 'Well they earn that amount of money so they should be going back'.
"For stuff like that I think is it worth the hassle? I could be potentially risking my health for people's entertainment and that's not something I want to be involved in if I'm honest."
A Watford player and two members of non-playing staff were among the six positive tests for coronavirus in the first round of Premier League testing.
The club confirmed the news on Tuesday evening after Burnley had earlier said assistant manager Ian Woan tested positive on Sunday.
Watford captain Troy Deeney has refused to return to training amid concerns for his son's health and the potentially increased risk to BAME players.
"We're due back in this week. I've said I'm not going in. It's nothing to do with financial gain," Deeney said on Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew's Talk The Talk podcast.
https://www.skysports.com/football/...eing-treated-like-lab-rats-in-project-restart
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
Q: If Premier League matches are played again this summer, should they be shown on free-to-air TV?
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden says we have to respect the rights broadcasters have. But there is some flexiblity, he says. He says matches are not shown on Saturday afternoons, when people could be watching in a stadium. That won’t apply. So he thinks there is some opportunity for getting matches on free-to-air TV.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden says we have to respect the rights broadcasters have. But there is some flexiblity, he says. He says matches are not shown on Saturday afternoons, when people could be watching in a stadium. That won’t apply. So he thinks there is some opportunity for getting matches on free-to-air TV.
KingKhanWC
World Star
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2010
- Runs
- 50,798
Not sure why Danny Rose is moaning, he can opt out if he feels unsafe. Truth is his career is going down hill and his frustrated, vastly over rated player.
No matches should be free to air, people have paid good money to watch football so unless they get refunds for subscribing, football should continue on the channels already in place.
No matches should be free to air, people have paid good money to watch football so unless they get refunds for subscribing, football should continue on the channels already in place.
Rana
Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
- Runs
- 85,941
Him and all those who don’t want to return should be put on furlough.
KingKhanWC
World Star
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2010
- Runs
- 50,798
I agree but as taxpayers we shouldn't be funding their high wages. They have enough money, so should'nt ruin their lives if they opt out without pay until they are satisified but my guess, they will change their tune and start playing when £100,000 a week isnt appearing in their accounts.
Rana
Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
- Runs
- 85,941
No not at all, they should be put on the £2500 a month thing and the club can choose to add the rest or eventually decide to lay those players off, just like Rolls Royce are doing with 9000 employees.
KingKhanWC
World Star
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2010
- Runs
- 50,798
Haha, imagine their faces. I still wouldn't like them to take £2500 tax payers money unless they are Liverpool under 13's.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
Adrian Mariappa has revealed he is the Watford player who tested positive for coronavirus.
Mariappa was one of six positive results to come back from the first round of Premier League testing this week, along with two members of Watford staff and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan.
The 33-year-old defender said he had not displayed any symptoms prior to being informed of his positive result on Tuesday and will now self-isolate for seven days, with a view to being tested again next week.
"It's quite scary how you can feel absolutely fine and not really have left the house, and yet still get the virus," Mariappa told Telegraph Sport.
"If it wasn't for the fact I had gone back to training and had this test, then I'd never have found out that I had the virus and I would just be getting on with things as normal. That's obviously quite a strange thought."
Watford club captain Troy Deeney revealed earlier this week his decision to not return to non-contact small group training amid concerns for his own son's health, as well as that of BAME players.
The Professional Footballers' Association has asked the Premier League to conduct further research into the effect of coronavirus on players from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Mariappa said he has felt "as fit as ever" during lockdown, while following a personalised fitness plan, but his immediate focus is with his family.
"I live with three of my children, who are five, nine and 11, and my partner and, obviously, now I'm a bit worried about them," he said.
"They are all fine and are not showing any symptoms, but you can't help but think about it and keep your distance once you know you've tested positive."
Watford head coach Nigel Pearson says the club will respect the decisions of players who decide they do not want to return to training amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Analysis from Sky Sports News reporter Gary Cotterill...
"The good news is that Adrian Mariappa is well, feels well and isn't displaying any symptoms. His family appears to be well, too. As a precaution, he has to stay away for at least seven days from the training ground along with two members of staff who haven't been identified.
"Because only 40 tests were carried out of a playing squad of about 30, that means that 10 others would have been people working on the frontline of football - the coaches, the technical staff and the medical staff - and two of those also is having to stay at home for the time being.
"My understanding is that Adrian didn't want his name to come out - he'd asked the club for it not to be revealed, but word had got out and there was a leak somewhere, it was going to be in the Daily Telegraph, and so he was persuaded to write this statement, setting everybody's minds at ease."
Analysis by Bryan Swanson, chief reporter, Sky Sports News...
The fact there are six positive tests must be taken seriously.
Those individuals, whether players or non-playing staff, will have to self-isolate for seven days before they take a further COVID-19 test.
They cannot attend the training ground and three clubs will now want to establish what contact those individuals had with other people, in particular in the same household.
In theory, they should not have come into close contact with anyone outside their household since March, under the government's social distancing rules.
It is also important to highlight more than 99 per cent of people have tested negative in the first round.
These figures, across 19 clubs, show that coronavirus is not widespread in Premier League clubs at the moment, at least not amongst the 40 people tested per club.
One club only carried out testing on Tuesday, and their data will be included in the next round of figures.
Up to 50 people from each club will be tested in each round going forward, twice a week, after a request by clubs, meaning up to 2,000 test results a week will be provided to the Premier League.
Prenetics, the company conducting the tests, has told Sky Sports News it can cope with increased demand.
The second round of test results are due to be published on Saturday, before clubs hold talks next week about the potential return of contact training.
We need to wait for trends, using further rounds of results, before we can assess the significance of these figures and establish whether the authorities feel it is safe to resume competitive games next month.
Speaking on The Football Show, Jamie Carragher said the Premier League will be "hugely relieved" at the low numbers of positive tests returned on the first day back at training, adding that the results could provide reassurance for other players considering avoiding their clubs' training grounds.
"I think it was a massive positive," he said. "Less than one per cent of the people tested came back with a positive result. If there had been 20 or 30 tests, that would've been a huge problem and there would have been a big reaction, but this morning you can see it's been a positive in terms of actually getting the season restarted. I think that's well on the way.
"It is only phase one, there is a situation at Watford, the situation with Troy Deeney and talk of other players not coming in, but I'm not sure I get that - the safest place to be at the moment is the football training grounds or stadiums. The players and staff who've tested positive have done it from outside, they've been tested now, and they have to self-isolate.
"People going into training grounds in the next few days will be fine and COVID-free. We all have families and different worries, but it was a huge positive for the Premier League yesterday and a positive in some ways we found out who has COVID-19, so the players and clubs can get back on with training in small numbers. Richard Masters and the Premier League will be hugely relieved."
https://www.skysports.com/football/...rd-defender-reveals-positive-coronavirus-test
Mariappa was one of six positive results to come back from the first round of Premier League testing this week, along with two members of Watford staff and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan.
The 33-year-old defender said he had not displayed any symptoms prior to being informed of his positive result on Tuesday and will now self-isolate for seven days, with a view to being tested again next week.
"It's quite scary how you can feel absolutely fine and not really have left the house, and yet still get the virus," Mariappa told Telegraph Sport.
"If it wasn't for the fact I had gone back to training and had this test, then I'd never have found out that I had the virus and I would just be getting on with things as normal. That's obviously quite a strange thought."
Watford club captain Troy Deeney revealed earlier this week his decision to not return to non-contact small group training amid concerns for his own son's health, as well as that of BAME players.
The Professional Footballers' Association has asked the Premier League to conduct further research into the effect of coronavirus on players from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Mariappa said he has felt "as fit as ever" during lockdown, while following a personalised fitness plan, but his immediate focus is with his family.
"I live with three of my children, who are five, nine and 11, and my partner and, obviously, now I'm a bit worried about them," he said.
"They are all fine and are not showing any symptoms, but you can't help but think about it and keep your distance once you know you've tested positive."
Watford head coach Nigel Pearson says the club will respect the decisions of players who decide they do not want to return to training amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Analysis from Sky Sports News reporter Gary Cotterill...
"The good news is that Adrian Mariappa is well, feels well and isn't displaying any symptoms. His family appears to be well, too. As a precaution, he has to stay away for at least seven days from the training ground along with two members of staff who haven't been identified.
"Because only 40 tests were carried out of a playing squad of about 30, that means that 10 others would have been people working on the frontline of football - the coaches, the technical staff and the medical staff - and two of those also is having to stay at home for the time being.
"My understanding is that Adrian didn't want his name to come out - he'd asked the club for it not to be revealed, but word had got out and there was a leak somewhere, it was going to be in the Daily Telegraph, and so he was persuaded to write this statement, setting everybody's minds at ease."
Analysis by Bryan Swanson, chief reporter, Sky Sports News...
The fact there are six positive tests must be taken seriously.
Those individuals, whether players or non-playing staff, will have to self-isolate for seven days before they take a further COVID-19 test.
They cannot attend the training ground and three clubs will now want to establish what contact those individuals had with other people, in particular in the same household.
In theory, they should not have come into close contact with anyone outside their household since March, under the government's social distancing rules.
It is also important to highlight more than 99 per cent of people have tested negative in the first round.
These figures, across 19 clubs, show that coronavirus is not widespread in Premier League clubs at the moment, at least not amongst the 40 people tested per club.
One club only carried out testing on Tuesday, and their data will be included in the next round of figures.
Up to 50 people from each club will be tested in each round going forward, twice a week, after a request by clubs, meaning up to 2,000 test results a week will be provided to the Premier League.
Prenetics, the company conducting the tests, has told Sky Sports News it can cope with increased demand.
The second round of test results are due to be published on Saturday, before clubs hold talks next week about the potential return of contact training.
We need to wait for trends, using further rounds of results, before we can assess the significance of these figures and establish whether the authorities feel it is safe to resume competitive games next month.
Speaking on The Football Show, Jamie Carragher said the Premier League will be "hugely relieved" at the low numbers of positive tests returned on the first day back at training, adding that the results could provide reassurance for other players considering avoiding their clubs' training grounds.
"I think it was a massive positive," he said. "Less than one per cent of the people tested came back with a positive result. If there had been 20 or 30 tests, that would've been a huge problem and there would have been a big reaction, but this morning you can see it's been a positive in terms of actually getting the season restarted. I think that's well on the way.
"It is only phase one, there is a situation at Watford, the situation with Troy Deeney and talk of other players not coming in, but I'm not sure I get that - the safest place to be at the moment is the football training grounds or stadiums. The players and staff who've tested positive have done it from outside, they've been tested now, and they have to self-isolate.
"People going into training grounds in the next few days will be fine and COVID-free. We all have families and different worries, but it was a huge positive for the Premier League yesterday and a positive in some ways we found out who has COVID-19, so the players and clubs can get back on with training in small numbers. Richard Masters and the Premier League will be hugely relieved."
https://www.skysports.com/football/...rd-defender-reveals-positive-coronavirus-test
Rana
Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
- Runs
- 85,941
I think Watford should be relegated for having so many players testing positive for Covid. I mean how do you have one club on the brink of relegation having all of these positive tests? What were these players doing during lockdown??
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,993
Chelsea gave N'Golo Kante permission to miss training on Wednesday after the midfielder expressed safety concerns over a return amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The 29-year-old returned to training at Cobham on Tuesday, the first day Premier League clubs were allowed to resume small group sessions, but decided against training again on Wednesday.
Kante lost his older brother to a heart attack just weeks before the World Cup in 2018, while a few months earlier the player himself fainted in training before being given a clean bill of health.
Watford captain Troy Deeney is also skipping training over concerns for his son's health, as well as that of BAME players.
The Professional Footballers' Association has asked the Premier League to conduct further research into the effect of coronavirus on players from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Data from the Office of National Statistics suggests black men and women are almost twice as likely to die from coronavirus compared to non-whites, even when factors such as health, disability, household composition and area deprivation are taken into account.
Deeney's team-mate Adrian Mariappa was one of six positive results to come back from an initial batch of 748 tests covering both Premier League players and non-playing staff, with two members of Watford staff and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan also testing positive.
Gary Neville warned on Tuesday that more players may reject a return to Premier League training, while Jamie Carragher said he was increasingly confident that the league will resume this summer.
"I know there are Premier League clubs with five or six players who don't want to return or are uncomfortable with certain things around stage two or three," Neville told The Football Show.
"We do have more problems and issues to resolve over the coming weeks."
Meanwhile, Carragher doesn't believe the reluctance of a small number of players to return to training is likely to derail plans to resume the Premier League season this summer.
He said: "We have always said on this show that if a player does not feel safe or sound to go back, he can't go back. This was always going to be the case that maybe one or two players in every squad may not feel safe and may not want to go back.
"I do not think that would stop the Premier League going on. If players en masse said they did not want to be involved, then that would be a big problem.
"But if one or two players in every club, that is something the clubs and Premier League will just have to accept and try and get them on board going forward."
Notebook: What next after return to training?
Sky Sports News reporter Geraint Hughes looks at what's next in the government's protocol…
The work behind the scenes to enable 'Step 1' of the return to training protocols to happen safely was complex, and involved a huge range of medical professionals, sports administrators and government officials.
Step 1 is witnessing a tentative and measured return to training. It has to be, the rules are clear; however, it's limited as to what footballers and other sportsmen and women can actually do.
0:33
Jurgen Klopp says he 'couldn't wait' to return to training, but insists Liverpool will need to be creative as they adapt to social distancing measures
So should Step 1 not encounter major obstacles such as a substantial rise in the number of positive tests for COVID-19, or coincide with a general increase in positive tests among the public as some return to commuting and work in their lives, then Step 2 of the return to training protocols becomes more of probability than a possibility.
Premier League training: Club-by-club update
Is there such a massive difference between Step 1 and 2? Yes, huge. Step 2 allows for the wonderfully-worded phrase 'social clustering' to be cleared for all sport. In reality, this is the bit which Premier League managers are most looking forward to as it allows contact.
At the moment, only two footballers can be within two metres of each other at the training ground, but if contact is allowed that brings training sessions back to where reality stopped sometime last March. It opens the door for 11 vs 11, set-pieces, sharing of equipment and it allows tackling.
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire says it felt "so safe" returning to training this week following the Premier League's first round of coronavirus testing.
United returned to their Carrington training complex on Wednesday - two months since their last competitive match - and, although it was a change from the norm, Maguire was pleased to be back.
Asked if it was reassuring knowing everyone had been tested, Maguire told the club's website: "Yeah, it's been a strange few months, but it has been a protocol which the club has followed. It seems such a safe environment.
"It's our first day back today, but it seems so safe and everyone is respecting it so well, so long may that continue and I'm sure no one will have any problems.
"There is a lot less people at the training ground when we go in. Today I was in a group of four, working with one coach, so not many people.
"You've got a lot space, big areas, not going really close to anyone, but the main thing is getting the work in and it was a tough session, [then] go home and now I'm relaxed and it's all in the bank and I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
https://www.skysports.com/football/...te-opts-to-miss-chelsea-training-on-wednesday
The 29-year-old returned to training at Cobham on Tuesday, the first day Premier League clubs were allowed to resume small group sessions, but decided against training again on Wednesday.
Kante lost his older brother to a heart attack just weeks before the World Cup in 2018, while a few months earlier the player himself fainted in training before being given a clean bill of health.
Watford captain Troy Deeney is also skipping training over concerns for his son's health, as well as that of BAME players.
The Professional Footballers' Association has asked the Premier League to conduct further research into the effect of coronavirus on players from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Data from the Office of National Statistics suggests black men and women are almost twice as likely to die from coronavirus compared to non-whites, even when factors such as health, disability, household composition and area deprivation are taken into account.
Deeney's team-mate Adrian Mariappa was one of six positive results to come back from an initial batch of 748 tests covering both Premier League players and non-playing staff, with two members of Watford staff and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan also testing positive.
Gary Neville warned on Tuesday that more players may reject a return to Premier League training, while Jamie Carragher said he was increasingly confident that the league will resume this summer.
"I know there are Premier League clubs with five or six players who don't want to return or are uncomfortable with certain things around stage two or three," Neville told The Football Show.
"We do have more problems and issues to resolve over the coming weeks."
Meanwhile, Carragher doesn't believe the reluctance of a small number of players to return to training is likely to derail plans to resume the Premier League season this summer.
He said: "We have always said on this show that if a player does not feel safe or sound to go back, he can't go back. This was always going to be the case that maybe one or two players in every squad may not feel safe and may not want to go back.
"I do not think that would stop the Premier League going on. If players en masse said they did not want to be involved, then that would be a big problem.
"But if one or two players in every club, that is something the clubs and Premier League will just have to accept and try and get them on board going forward."
Notebook: What next after return to training?
Sky Sports News reporter Geraint Hughes looks at what's next in the government's protocol…
The work behind the scenes to enable 'Step 1' of the return to training protocols to happen safely was complex, and involved a huge range of medical professionals, sports administrators and government officials.
Step 1 is witnessing a tentative and measured return to training. It has to be, the rules are clear; however, it's limited as to what footballers and other sportsmen and women can actually do.
0:33
Jurgen Klopp says he 'couldn't wait' to return to training, but insists Liverpool will need to be creative as they adapt to social distancing measures
So should Step 1 not encounter major obstacles such as a substantial rise in the number of positive tests for COVID-19, or coincide with a general increase in positive tests among the public as some return to commuting and work in their lives, then Step 2 of the return to training protocols becomes more of probability than a possibility.
Premier League training: Club-by-club update
Is there such a massive difference between Step 1 and 2? Yes, huge. Step 2 allows for the wonderfully-worded phrase 'social clustering' to be cleared for all sport. In reality, this is the bit which Premier League managers are most looking forward to as it allows contact.
At the moment, only two footballers can be within two metres of each other at the training ground, but if contact is allowed that brings training sessions back to where reality stopped sometime last March. It opens the door for 11 vs 11, set-pieces, sharing of equipment and it allows tackling.
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire says it felt "so safe" returning to training this week following the Premier League's first round of coronavirus testing.
United returned to their Carrington training complex on Wednesday - two months since their last competitive match - and, although it was a change from the norm, Maguire was pleased to be back.
Asked if it was reassuring knowing everyone had been tested, Maguire told the club's website: "Yeah, it's been a strange few months, but it has been a protocol which the club has followed. It seems such a safe environment.
"It's our first day back today, but it seems so safe and everyone is respecting it so well, so long may that continue and I'm sure no one will have any problems.
"There is a lot less people at the training ground when we go in. Today I was in a group of four, working with one coach, so not many people.
"You've got a lot space, big areas, not going really close to anyone, but the main thing is getting the work in and it was a tough session, [then] go home and now I'm relaxed and it's all in the bank and I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
https://www.skysports.com/football/...te-opts-to-miss-chelsea-training-on-wednesday
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Two more Watford players are self-isolating after being in close contact with people who have tested positive for coronavirus, says manager Nigel Pearson.
The unnamed pair join Watford defender Adrian Mariappa and two staff members who went into isolation this week after they tested positive in the Premier League's first round of testing.
It is another blow for the club who also have several players, including captain Troy Deeney, staying away from training due to ongoing safety concerns.
"The testing situation is obviously to minimise risk, so for the players and staff who have been in this week statistically they should be a lot safer but it is still a surprise for those who have tested positive," boss Pearson said.
"They're all feeling OK, and likewise for their families as well. That is important for us to make sure that those people - their health is OK.
"In addition to that, we've had a couple more people who have to be in isolation because they've been in close contact with people who have tested positive, even though their own result came back negative.
"I think that shows the types of complications that we've got. Today everybody has been tested again, we were tested on Friday morning, and we await further results over the weekend now.
"It is just something we have got to get used to. We are trying, as everybody will be, to establish what is now a more normal working practice in the circumstances that we have. That is what we have got to work with. But they're OK."
On how many of his squad have been absent this week, Pearson said: "One through testing positive, two more through being in contact with somebody else and the others because they decided not to come in.
"I don't intend to give specific numbers, but we've had several players who have not been available for different reasons this week, but it is what it is.
"We can't do much about that at the moment and hopefully that situation will change in time."
Mariappa had already tested positive and Pearson says he is feeling well and looking forward to returning to training once given the all clear.
He told Sky Sports News: "When I saw him for the test last week, I was sitting in the car park chatting to players as he came past so I had a chance to touch base with most of them.
"He looks exceptionally well and feels very well himself so I think it's an example of how this virus can affect people in different ways.
"He's following the advice and recommendations and isolating for a week. His family are all okay as well. I have no doubts in his case he'll be fine when he comes back in.
"The point about this is there will be people who have the virus and who shake it off easily and some who are more susceptible.
"There are still a lot of unanswered questions. He's disappointed he's not in and we've got other people who are away because they have to self-isolate because of being in contact with people who have been tested positive, and then we have players who have decided they will continue to train on their own."
Pearson says the mood in the camp is positive as Watford prepare to resume their fight against Premier League relegation.
"I've made my position abundantly clear what I do feel. My position as the head coach here is to support my players and staff and we will work towards getting our group of players in the best possible place and we're able to be competitive again," he said.
"We are still very much involved in a relegation battle and we can't drive the political vehicle that's ploughing ahead.
"It's very clear from the government stance they have no intention of slowing down our involvement back in the Premier League.
"I don't like being involved in a propaganda campaign but having read the info that's come our way about 'Stage 2' and all the stuff that's in the public domain about how they want to push it forward.
"It's very clear what the agenda is, but my work mode is very much about getting our preparation right, making sure we're all okay and that when we do return we are able to retain our Premier League status.
"That's really the priority - but not at the expense of people's well-being for sure."
Watford defender Christian Kabasele believes the potential Premier League return date of June 12 would be "impossible" and action should not resume until later that month.
'Project Restart' is well under way as the English top flight attempts to resume action amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"Nothing has been confirmed yet," said Kabasele. "Personally I follow the news through the media because nothing has been official for the moment.
"We [see] speak about June 12. I think it is impossible because it would be less than three weeks training after a long period without doing anything, it's a risk for us.
"I'm not sure, I don't have any information but I think we are not going to start June 12.
"The most obvious choice for me is the end of June. Like this you have at least four weeks to train with the team if it's possible.
"We will see. For the moment it's a big question mark on this."
https://www.skysports.com/football/...th-people-who-tested-positive-for-coronavirus
The unnamed pair join Watford defender Adrian Mariappa and two staff members who went into isolation this week after they tested positive in the Premier League's first round of testing.
It is another blow for the club who also have several players, including captain Troy Deeney, staying away from training due to ongoing safety concerns.
"The testing situation is obviously to minimise risk, so for the players and staff who have been in this week statistically they should be a lot safer but it is still a surprise for those who have tested positive," boss Pearson said.
"They're all feeling OK, and likewise for their families as well. That is important for us to make sure that those people - their health is OK.
"In addition to that, we've had a couple more people who have to be in isolation because they've been in close contact with people who have tested positive, even though their own result came back negative.
"I think that shows the types of complications that we've got. Today everybody has been tested again, we were tested on Friday morning, and we await further results over the weekend now.
"It is just something we have got to get used to. We are trying, as everybody will be, to establish what is now a more normal working practice in the circumstances that we have. That is what we have got to work with. But they're OK."
On how many of his squad have been absent this week, Pearson said: "One through testing positive, two more through being in contact with somebody else and the others because they decided not to come in.
"I don't intend to give specific numbers, but we've had several players who have not been available for different reasons this week, but it is what it is.
"We can't do much about that at the moment and hopefully that situation will change in time."
Mariappa had already tested positive and Pearson says he is feeling well and looking forward to returning to training once given the all clear.
He told Sky Sports News: "When I saw him for the test last week, I was sitting in the car park chatting to players as he came past so I had a chance to touch base with most of them.
"He looks exceptionally well and feels very well himself so I think it's an example of how this virus can affect people in different ways.
"He's following the advice and recommendations and isolating for a week. His family are all okay as well. I have no doubts in his case he'll be fine when he comes back in.
"The point about this is there will be people who have the virus and who shake it off easily and some who are more susceptible.
"There are still a lot of unanswered questions. He's disappointed he's not in and we've got other people who are away because they have to self-isolate because of being in contact with people who have been tested positive, and then we have players who have decided they will continue to train on their own."
Pearson says the mood in the camp is positive as Watford prepare to resume their fight against Premier League relegation.
"I've made my position abundantly clear what I do feel. My position as the head coach here is to support my players and staff and we will work towards getting our group of players in the best possible place and we're able to be competitive again," he said.
"We are still very much involved in a relegation battle and we can't drive the political vehicle that's ploughing ahead.
"It's very clear from the government stance they have no intention of slowing down our involvement back in the Premier League.
"I don't like being involved in a propaganda campaign but having read the info that's come our way about 'Stage 2' and all the stuff that's in the public domain about how they want to push it forward.
"It's very clear what the agenda is, but my work mode is very much about getting our preparation right, making sure we're all okay and that when we do return we are able to retain our Premier League status.
"That's really the priority - but not at the expense of people's well-being for sure."
Watford defender Christian Kabasele believes the potential Premier League return date of June 12 would be "impossible" and action should not resume until later that month.
'Project Restart' is well under way as the English top flight attempts to resume action amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"Nothing has been confirmed yet," said Kabasele. "Personally I follow the news through the media because nothing has been official for the moment.
"We [see] speak about June 12. I think it is impossible because it would be less than three weeks training after a long period without doing anything, it's a risk for us.
"I'm not sure, I don't have any information but I think we are not going to start June 12.
"The most obvious choice for me is the end of June. Like this you have at least four weeks to train with the team if it's possible.
"We will see. For the moment it's a big question mark on this."
https://www.skysports.com/football/...th-people-who-tested-positive-for-coronavirus
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Premier League clubs are set to vote next week to start contact training despite the concerns of many players.
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Watford defender Christian Kabasele believes the potential Premier League return date of June 12 would be “impossible” and that action should not resume until later that month.
‘Project Restart’ is well under way as the English top flight attempts to resume action amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Phase one of small group training, respecting social distancing began this week after being voted through by clubs after testing got under way.
Defender Adrian Mariappa and two members of Watford’s staff returning positive Covid-19 tests ahead of the resumption of training, which Kabasele says cannot be rushed due to the threat of injury.
‘Project Restart’ is well under way as the English top flight attempts to resume action amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Phase one of small group training, respecting social distancing began this week after being voted through by clubs after testing got under way.
Defender Adrian Mariappa and two members of Watford’s staff returning positive Covid-19 tests ahead of the resumption of training, which Kabasele says cannot be rushed due to the threat of injury.
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Two new cases of coronavirus, at two separate clubs, have been found in the latest round of Premier League tests - taking the overall total to eight.
Tests took place on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of last week, with 996 players and club staff tested.
The first round's results, announced on 19 May, saw six positives from three clubs of 748 players and staff tested.
That number included the positive tests of Watford's Adrian Mariappa and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan.
Players or club staff who have tested positive must self-isolate for a period of seven days.
For the second round of testing the number of tests available to each club was increased from 40 to 50.
Squads started non-contact training from Tuesday for the first time since the Premier League was suspended on 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic, with 92 fixtures remaining.
Speaking on Friday, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the league was "as confident as we can be" about restarting in June.
Asked what date the Premier League was targeting for a return, Masters said it must be "flexible" and could learn from the recent resumption of Germany's Bundesliga.
On Saturday the Spanish Prime Minister said La Liga can resume behind closed doors from 8 June.
Players quiz government on BAME risks
Watford captain Troy Deeney and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright were among those who quizzed government officials on Friday about the added dangers that coronavirus might pose towards black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) players.
The Office for National Statistics says black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from coronavirus as white people in England and Wales.
Hornets forward Deeney and Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante opted to stay away from club training this week as a precaution.
In a "frank and open" online meeting, medical experts, including deputy chief medical offer Jonathan Van-Tam, were asked to quantify risks.
Deeney and Wright, who were also joined in the online forum by former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi and former Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo, were told that the risk among young and healthy footballers was low.
But concerns were also raised about passing the infection on to family members.
The Professional Footballers' Association, which was also in attendance, has asked for more research to be conducted into the issue.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52785438
Tests took place on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of last week, with 996 players and club staff tested.
The first round's results, announced on 19 May, saw six positives from three clubs of 748 players and staff tested.
That number included the positive tests of Watford's Adrian Mariappa and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan.
Players or club staff who have tested positive must self-isolate for a period of seven days.
For the second round of testing the number of tests available to each club was increased from 40 to 50.
Squads started non-contact training from Tuesday for the first time since the Premier League was suspended on 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic, with 92 fixtures remaining.
Speaking on Friday, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the league was "as confident as we can be" about restarting in June.
Asked what date the Premier League was targeting for a return, Masters said it must be "flexible" and could learn from the recent resumption of Germany's Bundesliga.
On Saturday the Spanish Prime Minister said La Liga can resume behind closed doors from 8 June.
Players quiz government on BAME risks
Watford captain Troy Deeney and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright were among those who quizzed government officials on Friday about the added dangers that coronavirus might pose towards black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) players.
The Office for National Statistics says black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from coronavirus as white people in England and Wales.
Hornets forward Deeney and Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante opted to stay away from club training this week as a precaution.
In a "frank and open" online meeting, medical experts, including deputy chief medical offer Jonathan Van-Tam, were asked to quantify risks.
Deeney and Wright, who were also joined in the online forum by former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi and former Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo, were told that the risk among young and healthy footballers was low.
But concerns were also raised about passing the infection on to family members.
The Professional Footballers' Association, which was also in attendance, has asked for more research to be conducted into the issue.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52785438
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Bournemouth confirm one of their players tested positive for coronavirus in Premier League's second phase of testing
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Bournemouth have confirmed one of their players tested positive for coronavirus in the Premier League's second round of testing.
The club have not named the player, who will self-isolate for seven days before being tested again.
The Premier League revealed the results of a second batch of tests on Saturday, with a total of two people from two separate clubs testing positive. Six positive tests were returned from the first phase of testing.
A total of 996 tests were carried out in the second run of mass testing, with the number of tests available to each club increased from 40 to 50.
Newcastle club doctor Paul Catterson says there was a huge sense of relief when the first phase of their COVID-19 tests returned negative, but says they must guard against complacency.
In a statement, Bournemouth said: "Medical confidentiality means the player's name will not be disclosed, and the club asks for this to be respected.
"In line with Premier League protocols regarding positive tests, he will self-isolate for a period of seven days before being tested again at a later date.
"Following strict adherence of the Premier League's return to training regulations, the club's training ground remains a safe working environment for players and backroom staff, who will continue to be tested for Covid-19 twice per week."
Brighton defender Bernardo says it has been hard to adapt to not tackling in training and admits to having questions about the next phases of Project Restart.
All 20 clubs have carried out two rounds of testing, with clubs due to take part in a third round on Monday and Tuesday.
Eight positive tests have been returned out of a total of 1,744 tests conducted in the first two rounds, which equates to 0.45 per cent of the tests coming back positive.
Watford's Adrian Mariappa and two members of the club's non-playing staff, as well as Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan, were among the six positive tests for coronavirus in the first round of Premier League testing.
Those six were not included in the latest figures as they are still within their seven-day isolation period. A total of 748 tests were conducted in the first round of testing last Sunday and Monday.
Sky Sports News' chief reporter Bryan Swanson says the Premier League will be relieved by the results of the latest coronavirus testing, in which just two people have tested positive.
Analysis from Sky Sports News chief reporter Bryan Swanson...
Two new positive results out of nearly 1,000 tests will provide further encouragement for the Premier League as it moves tentatively towards 'Project Restart'.
These latest figures again show that coronavirus is not widespread in all 20 clubs at the moment, at least not amongst an average of 47 people tested per club in the second round.
The fact there are any positive tests must be taken seriously and those two individuals must self-isolate for seven days before they take a further COVID-19 test.
They cannot attend the training ground and their clubs will want to establish what contact those individuals had with other people, in particular in the same household.
In theory, they should have not have come into close contact with anyone outside their household since March, under the government's social distancing rules.
It is important to highlight there have been 1,736 negative results in the first two rounds, around 99.5 per cent.
Up to 50 people from each club are now being tested in each round, twice a week, after a request by clubs.
The third round of tests are due to take place on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of a key vote on Wednesday over contact training, subject to government approval.
Fewer positive results over a larger number of tests will ensure cautious optimism for the Premier League.
Clubs need this trend to continue to give the authorities the confidence that it will be safe to resume competitive games at some point next month.
The club have not named the player, who will self-isolate for seven days before being tested again.
The Premier League revealed the results of a second batch of tests on Saturday, with a total of two people from two separate clubs testing positive. Six positive tests were returned from the first phase of testing.
A total of 996 tests were carried out in the second run of mass testing, with the number of tests available to each club increased from 40 to 50.
Newcastle club doctor Paul Catterson says there was a huge sense of relief when the first phase of their COVID-19 tests returned negative, but says they must guard against complacency.
In a statement, Bournemouth said: "Medical confidentiality means the player's name will not be disclosed, and the club asks for this to be respected.
"In line with Premier League protocols regarding positive tests, he will self-isolate for a period of seven days before being tested again at a later date.
"Following strict adherence of the Premier League's return to training regulations, the club's training ground remains a safe working environment for players and backroom staff, who will continue to be tested for Covid-19 twice per week."
Brighton defender Bernardo says it has been hard to adapt to not tackling in training and admits to having questions about the next phases of Project Restart.
All 20 clubs have carried out two rounds of testing, with clubs due to take part in a third round on Monday and Tuesday.
Eight positive tests have been returned out of a total of 1,744 tests conducted in the first two rounds, which equates to 0.45 per cent of the tests coming back positive.
Watford's Adrian Mariappa and two members of the club's non-playing staff, as well as Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan, were among the six positive tests for coronavirus in the first round of Premier League testing.
Those six were not included in the latest figures as they are still within their seven-day isolation period. A total of 748 tests were conducted in the first round of testing last Sunday and Monday.
Sky Sports News' chief reporter Bryan Swanson says the Premier League will be relieved by the results of the latest coronavirus testing, in which just two people have tested positive.
Analysis from Sky Sports News chief reporter Bryan Swanson...
Two new positive results out of nearly 1,000 tests will provide further encouragement for the Premier League as it moves tentatively towards 'Project Restart'.
These latest figures again show that coronavirus is not widespread in all 20 clubs at the moment, at least not amongst an average of 47 people tested per club in the second round.
The fact there are any positive tests must be taken seriously and those two individuals must self-isolate for seven days before they take a further COVID-19 test.
They cannot attend the training ground and their clubs will want to establish what contact those individuals had with other people, in particular in the same household.
In theory, they should have not have come into close contact with anyone outside their household since March, under the government's social distancing rules.
It is important to highlight there have been 1,736 negative results in the first two rounds, around 99.5 per cent.
Up to 50 people from each club are now being tested in each round, twice a week, after a request by clubs.
The third round of tests are due to take place on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of a key vote on Wednesday over contact training, subject to government approval.
Fewer positive results over a larger number of tests will ensure cautious optimism for the Premier League.
Clubs need this trend to continue to give the authorities the confidence that it will be safe to resume competitive games at some point next month.
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(Reuters) - Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend says players are “desperate” to return to contact training and that he is encouraged by the results of the Premier League’s testing regime for the new coronavirus.
The second round of testing returned two positives — with Bournemouth saying one of their players was now self-isolating — as the government issued guidance on the next step for athletes to resume close-contact training.
“We’re desperate to get back to normality and contact training,” Townsend told Sky Sports. “At the start of the week you’re worried about being near other players but as the days go on, you get more and more comfortable with each positive test.
The second round of testing returned two positives — with Bournemouth saying one of their players was now self-isolating — as the government issued guidance on the next step for athletes to resume close-contact training.
“We’re desperate to get back to normality and contact training,” Townsend told Sky Sports. “At the start of the week you’re worried about being near other players but as the days go on, you get more and more comfortable with each positive test.
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Premier League managers and captains to meet over latest season restart steps
The Premier League will on Tuesday hope to fully convince managers and captains of the safety of contact training, before the clubs vote on those plans for phase two of Project Restart on Wednesday.
If successful, the squads will go back to full training on Thursday.
The safety concerns of players have for the last two weeks been seen as the biggest obstacle to English football’s return, but there has been a positive shift in the last few days.
The government on Monday gave the green light to the plans permitting close contact for elite athletes in training. That followed another successful weekend of Bundesliga fixtures, the scheduled return of more major leagues like Spain’s, a low number of positive tests – just two from the latest round – and what was seen as a “positive” session to reassure players on the reported higher risk to BAME athletes of coronavirus contraction.
There is a feeling that more and more of the hurdles are being crossed and the Premier League will return in mid-June, even if the 19th is still seen as more realistic than the target date of the 12th.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...-date-meeting-managers-captains-a9531351.html
The Premier League will on Tuesday hope to fully convince managers and captains of the safety of contact training, before the clubs vote on those plans for phase two of Project Restart on Wednesday.
If successful, the squads will go back to full training on Thursday.
The safety concerns of players have for the last two weeks been seen as the biggest obstacle to English football’s return, but there has been a positive shift in the last few days.
The government on Monday gave the green light to the plans permitting close contact for elite athletes in training. That followed another successful weekend of Bundesliga fixtures, the scheduled return of more major leagues like Spain’s, a low number of positive tests – just two from the latest round – and what was seen as a “positive” session to reassure players on the reported higher risk to BAME athletes of coronavirus contraction.
There is a feeling that more and more of the hurdles are being crossed and the Premier League will return in mid-June, even if the 19th is still seen as more realistic than the target date of the 12th.
Tuesday’s meeting will bring in discussion on the latest research, including a white paper by STATSports – the company who make GPS vests for the Premier League clubs – as well as Friday’s meeting on the risk to BAME players.
That involved a number of the Premier League BAME advisory group and high-profile players including Troy Deeney. The Watford captain, who has been one of the most vocal about safety concerns, is understood to have felt the meeting was productive and informative.
These were feelings echoed by Ian Wright, who sits on the advisory group.
“Friday’s session was very positive, it wasn’t the only thing discussed but it was the focus of the session. It’s rightfully being taken very seriously. We know that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are disproportionately affected by this virus. There were good reassurances presented on the playing side but also for what things need to look like away from the pitch.
“Professor Van Tam was able to explain the data and science in a way that made sense for us. Each player must still make the decision for themselves but the information presented, level of detail and expertise on the call should help them to do that.
“The next step is obviously to make sure this is communicated properly to the players and their families. We need to take this step by step.”
That involved a number of the Premier League BAME advisory group and high-profile players including Troy Deeney. The Watford captain, who has been one of the most vocal about safety concerns, is understood to have felt the meeting was productive and informative.
These were feelings echoed by Ian Wright, who sits on the advisory group.
“Friday’s session was very positive, it wasn’t the only thing discussed but it was the focus of the session. It’s rightfully being taken very seriously. We know that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are disproportionately affected by this virus. There were good reassurances presented on the playing side but also for what things need to look like away from the pitch.
“Professor Van Tam was able to explain the data and science in a way that made sense for us. Each player must still make the decision for themselves but the information presented, level of detail and expertise on the call should help them to do that.
“The next step is obviously to make sure this is communicated properly to the players and their families. We need to take this step by step.”
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June 19 has been one target date, however, some Premier League clubs are now pushing for a further week to prepare their squads, with a return on June 26.
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Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has reportedly tested positive to coronavirus days after his club announced an unnamed player had contracted Covid-19.
The 22-year-old told SunSport that he was asymptomatic and had returned a negative test on May 18 before testing positive on Friday.
There were two positive tests from the latest round of Covid-19 testing among Premier League players and staff, with the other test coming from a different club.
It follows an earlier round of testing where six people were shown to have the virus, including Watford defender Adrian Mariappa and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan.
Ramsdale, who has become Bournemouth’s first choice goalkeeper this term, told the Sun he believed he had caught the virus at the supermarket.
“It’s definitely a shock — I’ve not been in contact with anybody and I’ve now got it,” he said.
“I’m showing no symptoms so the fact that a healthy young person could potentially have it is definitely scary and worrying.”
The player, who has been capped at under 21 level for England, has isolated at his Bournemouth home with his partner since his diagnosis.
He will need to pass another test after the seven-day quarantine period before returning to training.
He said: “When you know you haven’t had it, and you’ve just been following the rules and only gone to the shop, that was obviously scary at first.
“Now I’m in the realisation that I’ve got it.”
Bournemouth said in its statement on Saturday: “Following strict adherence of the Premier League’s return to training regulations, the club’s training ground remains a safe working environment for players and backroom staff, who will continue to be tested for Covid-19 twice per week.”
The reduction in positive cases among Premier League staff, with 248 more people tested in this round, will be seen as a step forward for ‘Project Restart’ going into Tuesday’s Premier League shareholders’ meeting, where clubs are expected to discuss the protocols of moving to contact training.
The six people who tested positive in the first round were not checked this time due to being in self-isolation, while the capacity of testing at each club has increased from 40 to 50.
Clubs unanimously voted on May 18 to resume limited group training, players up and down the league have returned to their training grounds with team-mates this week after more than two months away.
But there are still concerns among players, with the likes of Watford captain Troy Deeney and Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante staying away over safety fears.
It has been a particularly tough time for Watford as, along with Mariappa, two members of staff tested positive, while boss Nigel Pearson revealed on Friday that several of his players were at home in isolation after members of their family had the virus.
However, the determination to resume the season remains firm, with June 19 a mooted “staging post” for a restart.
https://www.bt.com/sport/news/bournemouth-keeper-aaron-ramsdale-tests-positive-for-coronavirus
The 22-year-old told SunSport that he was asymptomatic and had returned a negative test on May 18 before testing positive on Friday.
There were two positive tests from the latest round of Covid-19 testing among Premier League players and staff, with the other test coming from a different club.
It follows an earlier round of testing where six people were shown to have the virus, including Watford defender Adrian Mariappa and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan.
Ramsdale, who has become Bournemouth’s first choice goalkeeper this term, told the Sun he believed he had caught the virus at the supermarket.
“It’s definitely a shock — I’ve not been in contact with anybody and I’ve now got it,” he said.
“I’m showing no symptoms so the fact that a healthy young person could potentially have it is definitely scary and worrying.”
The player, who has been capped at under 21 level for England, has isolated at his Bournemouth home with his partner since his diagnosis.
He will need to pass another test after the seven-day quarantine period before returning to training.
He said: “When you know you haven’t had it, and you’ve just been following the rules and only gone to the shop, that was obviously scary at first.
“Now I’m in the realisation that I’ve got it.”
Bournemouth said in its statement on Saturday: “Following strict adherence of the Premier League’s return to training regulations, the club’s training ground remains a safe working environment for players and backroom staff, who will continue to be tested for Covid-19 twice per week.”
The reduction in positive cases among Premier League staff, with 248 more people tested in this round, will be seen as a step forward for ‘Project Restart’ going into Tuesday’s Premier League shareholders’ meeting, where clubs are expected to discuss the protocols of moving to contact training.
The six people who tested positive in the first round were not checked this time due to being in self-isolation, while the capacity of testing at each club has increased from 40 to 50.
Clubs unanimously voted on May 18 to resume limited group training, players up and down the league have returned to their training grounds with team-mates this week after more than two months away.
But there are still concerns among players, with the likes of Watford captain Troy Deeney and Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante staying away over safety fears.
It has been a particularly tough time for Watford as, along with Mariappa, two members of staff tested positive, while boss Nigel Pearson revealed on Friday that several of his players were at home in isolation after members of their family had the virus.
However, the determination to resume the season remains firm, with June 19 a mooted “staging post” for a restart.
https://www.bt.com/sport/news/bournemouth-keeper-aaron-ramsdale-tests-positive-for-coronavirus
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Premier League players could be 25% more susceptible to injury when football resumes because of the intense schedule, research shows.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters is "as confident as we can be" of restarting in June.
Time will need to be found for the FA Cup before the 2020-21 season starts in "late August, early September".
Based on Project Restart's provisional return date of 20 June, Manchester City players could face 13 games in 49 days.
City have played one fewer match than the majority of Premier League clubs but these figures do not take into account the completion of the Champions League, which has the potential of adding another four games should they reach the final - if the tournament can be concluded.
Research conducted by artificial intelligence platform Zone7, which specialises in injury risk forecasting and works with 35 professional football teams worldwide, shows that playing eight matches in a 30-day period increases the incidence of injury by 25% when compared with playing four to five matches in the same timeframe.
Eight matches in 30 days may seem a regular occurrence but only 4% of players across a season are subjected to such a run of games.
It is not just the congestion of the fixture list that poses a concern, but the time provided for teams to transition from individual, socially distanced training to higher-intensity group training, something Watford manager Nigel Pearson and Newcastle boss Steve Bruce are concerned about.
The Bundesliga was only officially given the go-ahead to recommence on 7 May, just nine days before the first fixture kicked off. Eight players picked up injuries in the six games on 16 May - a rate well above normal.
But when examining data from 11 top-division professional teams from the past two seasons, Zone7 found that when the preparation period shortens, due to an international tournament or entry into European competition, 75% of teams had higher prevalence of injury in the first half of the season when compared to those that had more planning time.
Flaminia Ronca, an exercise physiologist at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, part of University College London, is working with Premier League players to assess what health risks they may face when returning after the suspension.
She said: "It's possible that the players may have lost up to 15% of their fitness, which they now need to regain in a very short time.
"And I think this is really where the science of training becomes so crucial. Coaches will have to be very creative and combine the most effective methods of training with the safest injury prevention methods, all condensed into this very tight timeframe."
How does the analysis work?
Over five million hours of performance from various sports, including those 35 professional football teams, has been gathered by Zone7 and this data is used to assess the probability of a player sustaining an injury in the following seven days.
Millions of data points are taken from wearable technology that tracks workloads from training and matches, player injury history, fitness tests, and even sleep patterns to generate daily risk forecasts.
Historical data is used to detect data patterns that precede injuries and alert when those data patterns emerge and help prevent the injury before it occurs.
From here, teams are given risk forecasts and not only can they identify the type of injury a particular player could sustain if they are deemed "high risk", modifications can be made to that player's bespoke training schedule to avoid the injury occurring. Zone7 states it can provide accurate and timely alerts for 75% of injuries.
Spanish side Getafe are fifth in La Liga, level on points with Real Sociedad despite having a bottom-half wage budget, and some of their success is down to the regular availability of their trim squad.
Upon integrating this data analysis into their training routines in 2017, the number of injuries sustained fell from 3.25 per month to just 0.86 during that period.
To ensure the results were not an anomaly, Getafe stopped using the technology for a period at the beginning of 2018-19 and then restarted so that a direct comparison could be made.
Without the analytical tool from August to October, 96 days per month were lost to injury. With it, from November until the end of 2018-19, the number fell to 35 missed days, a 64% reduction. Moreover, two-thirds of the injuries that were incurred were alerted by the platform beforehand.
While Zone7 provides a recommendation, ultimately it is the final decision of the club and their technical staff to act upon the data.
But in 2018-19 Getafe finished bottom of the injury table in La Liga, with just eight in the entire campaign. Javi Vidal, their performance coach, said simply of the injury avoidance process: "What was previously subjective, is now objective."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52754212
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters is "as confident as we can be" of restarting in June.
Time will need to be found for the FA Cup before the 2020-21 season starts in "late August, early September".
Based on Project Restart's provisional return date of 20 June, Manchester City players could face 13 games in 49 days.
City have played one fewer match than the majority of Premier League clubs but these figures do not take into account the completion of the Champions League, which has the potential of adding another four games should they reach the final - if the tournament can be concluded.
Research conducted by artificial intelligence platform Zone7, which specialises in injury risk forecasting and works with 35 professional football teams worldwide, shows that playing eight matches in a 30-day period increases the incidence of injury by 25% when compared with playing four to five matches in the same timeframe.
Eight matches in 30 days may seem a regular occurrence but only 4% of players across a season are subjected to such a run of games.
It is not just the congestion of the fixture list that poses a concern, but the time provided for teams to transition from individual, socially distanced training to higher-intensity group training, something Watford manager Nigel Pearson and Newcastle boss Steve Bruce are concerned about.
The Bundesliga was only officially given the go-ahead to recommence on 7 May, just nine days before the first fixture kicked off. Eight players picked up injuries in the six games on 16 May - a rate well above normal.
But when examining data from 11 top-division professional teams from the past two seasons, Zone7 found that when the preparation period shortens, due to an international tournament or entry into European competition, 75% of teams had higher prevalence of injury in the first half of the season when compared to those that had more planning time.
Flaminia Ronca, an exercise physiologist at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, part of University College London, is working with Premier League players to assess what health risks they may face when returning after the suspension.
She said: "It's possible that the players may have lost up to 15% of their fitness, which they now need to regain in a very short time.
"And I think this is really where the science of training becomes so crucial. Coaches will have to be very creative and combine the most effective methods of training with the safest injury prevention methods, all condensed into this very tight timeframe."
How does the analysis work?
Over five million hours of performance from various sports, including those 35 professional football teams, has been gathered by Zone7 and this data is used to assess the probability of a player sustaining an injury in the following seven days.
Millions of data points are taken from wearable technology that tracks workloads from training and matches, player injury history, fitness tests, and even sleep patterns to generate daily risk forecasts.
Historical data is used to detect data patterns that precede injuries and alert when those data patterns emerge and help prevent the injury before it occurs.
From here, teams are given risk forecasts and not only can they identify the type of injury a particular player could sustain if they are deemed "high risk", modifications can be made to that player's bespoke training schedule to avoid the injury occurring. Zone7 states it can provide accurate and timely alerts for 75% of injuries.
Spanish side Getafe are fifth in La Liga, level on points with Real Sociedad despite having a bottom-half wage budget, and some of their success is down to the regular availability of their trim squad.
Upon integrating this data analysis into their training routines in 2017, the number of injuries sustained fell from 3.25 per month to just 0.86 during that period.
To ensure the results were not an anomaly, Getafe stopped using the technology for a period at the beginning of 2018-19 and then restarted so that a direct comparison could be made.
Without the analytical tool from August to October, 96 days per month were lost to injury. With it, from November until the end of 2018-19, the number fell to 35 missed days, a 64% reduction. Moreover, two-thirds of the injuries that were incurred were alerted by the platform beforehand.
While Zone7 provides a recommendation, ultimately it is the final decision of the club and their technical staff to act upon the data.
But in 2018-19 Getafe finished bottom of the injury table in La Liga, with just eight in the entire campaign. Javi Vidal, their performance coach, said simply of the injury avoidance process: "What was previously subjective, is now objective."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52754212
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- Mar 19, 2015
- Runs
- 15,745
Premier League return date could be agreed this week
Premier League clubs are expected to give the go ahead to the introduction of phase two of training on Wednesday, prompting hopes that a date for the return to competition could be agreed by the end of the week.
The league has received government approval to progress to the next stage of Project Restart, enabling competitive and close-contact training, including tackling, in groups of up to 12 players.Players and managers will have the chance to discuss any remaining concerns over phase two when they hold separate video calls with the Premier League on Tuesday.
Players and managers will have the chance to discuss any remaining concerns over phase two when they hold separate video calls with the Premier League on Tuesday afternoon.
https://www.skysports.com/football/...-league-return-date-could-be-agreed-this-week
Premier League clubs are expected to give the go ahead to the introduction of phase two of training on Wednesday, prompting hopes that a date for the return to competition could be agreed by the end of the week.
The league has received government approval to progress to the next stage of Project Restart, enabling competitive and close-contact training, including tackling, in groups of up to 12 players.Players and managers will have the chance to discuss any remaining concerns over phase two when they hold separate video calls with the Premier League on Tuesday.
Players and managers will have the chance to discuss any remaining concerns over phase two when they hold separate video calls with the Premier League on Tuesday afternoon.
Premier League officials will first brief the league's 20 managers and officials from the League Managers Association (LMA), with a similar briefing for the 20 Premier League club captains and representatives from the Professional Footballers Associations (PFA) to follow.
Players are looking for reassurance that contact training does not pose an increased risk to either their safety, or the safety of their relatives. Those with pregnant partners or vulnerable relatives have raised particular concerns.
A key question that will be asked is how can players actually catch COVID-19, and what it takes for the disease to be transmitted on the pitch.
Players will be told that the Premier League and the government have committed to further research into the risk to those from BAME backgrounds compared to other groups.
There is growing optimism among players that Project Restart can be successful following encouraging results from the initial rounds of coronavirus testing, with eight positive cases returned from 1,744 tests conducted across two rounds.
Watching the Bundesliga has built confidence among the players that they can safely return to playing matches behind closed doors.
On Wednesday, clubs will then vote on whether to move to the next stage of training, which could be introduced at training grounds before the end of this week.
Several clubs have raised concerns over what will happen if a player tests positive, once full contact training is reintroduced.
In particular, there are worries over whether team-mates could also be isolated for up to two weeks, sending club and league planning into chaos.
With the majority of clubs likely to back the introduction of phase two, the week could end with the Premier League putting forward the final drafts of Project Restart - and a proposed fixture list, including the date when competitive action could resume.
June 19 has been one target date, however, some Premier League clubs are now pushing for a further week to prepare their squads, with a return on June 26.
A week of crucial meetings continues on Thursday when all other aspects of Project Restart will be discussed, including the league's contingency plans on relegation, the issue of the use of points-per-game - and the award of the Premier League title, if the season has to be curtailed.
One proposal, first reported in the Daily Mail, to use 'home/away and/or neutral venues' will also be discussed at Thursday's meeting.
The hybrid model would see the majority of games held at home grounds, while a handful of high-risk matches could be moved to neutral venues, to allay police fears and reduce the likelihood of large groups of fans congregating outside a stadium.
Players are looking for reassurance that contact training does not pose an increased risk to either their safety, or the safety of their relatives. Those with pregnant partners or vulnerable relatives have raised particular concerns.
A key question that will be asked is how can players actually catch COVID-19, and what it takes for the disease to be transmitted on the pitch.
Players will be told that the Premier League and the government have committed to further research into the risk to those from BAME backgrounds compared to other groups.
There is growing optimism among players that Project Restart can be successful following encouraging results from the initial rounds of coronavirus testing, with eight positive cases returned from 1,744 tests conducted across two rounds.
Watching the Bundesliga has built confidence among the players that they can safely return to playing matches behind closed doors.
On Wednesday, clubs will then vote on whether to move to the next stage of training, which could be introduced at training grounds before the end of this week.
Several clubs have raised concerns over what will happen if a player tests positive, once full contact training is reintroduced.
In particular, there are worries over whether team-mates could also be isolated for up to two weeks, sending club and league planning into chaos.
With the majority of clubs likely to back the introduction of phase two, the week could end with the Premier League putting forward the final drafts of Project Restart - and a proposed fixture list, including the date when competitive action could resume.
June 19 has been one target date, however, some Premier League clubs are now pushing for a further week to prepare their squads, with a return on June 26.
A week of crucial meetings continues on Thursday when all other aspects of Project Restart will be discussed, including the league's contingency plans on relegation, the issue of the use of points-per-game - and the award of the Premier League title, if the season has to be curtailed.
One proposal, first reported in the Daily Mail, to use 'home/away and/or neutral venues' will also be discussed at Thursday's meeting.
The hybrid model would see the majority of games held at home grounds, while a handful of high-risk matches could be moved to neutral venues, to allay police fears and reduce the likelihood of large groups of fans congregating outside a stadium.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
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- 217,993
News of Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale's positive coronavirus test "shook" the Premier League club, according to manager Eddie Howe.
Ramsdale initially tested negative but returned a positive test days later.
The 22-year-old was asymptomatic but is one of eight people to test positive from across the Premier League so far.
"I imagine anxiety is there among the players," Howe told the Daily Mail. "I can only imagine they are feeling the same way as I am.'
"There was not one positive within our group during the early stages and we were comfortable and felt OK," added Howe, who was the first Premier League manager to take a pay cut during the coronavirus crisis.
"But as soon as you get that one positive test, that changes the mindset of everybody.
"Suddenly everyone feels vulnerable, everyone is alerted to the fact that this is serious and real.
"Then the unknown comes into play. That shook us. We are now waiting for our next testing times to see if anyone else was in contact with the player."
What is the latest with Project Restart?
BBC Sports News correspondent Laura Scott
So far eight people from Premier League clubs have tested positive after 1,744 tests including Ramsdale, Watford defender Adrian Mariappa and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan.
The results of the third round of coronavirus tests results are expected to be made public on Wednesday.
Squads started non-contact training last Tuesday for the first time since the Premier League was suspended on 13 March because of the pandemic, with 92 fixtures remaining.
The government has since approved guidance that allows elite sport to return to contact training, and the league discussed that with captains, managers and representatives from the Professional Footballers' Association and League Managers' Association on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, clubs will vote on whether to return to contact training. If they vote in favour it could come in this week.
Clubs will discuss further issues on Thursday including the use of neutral stadiums, how to decide the season in the event of curtailment and voting on rebates to broadcasters.
Speaking on Friday, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the league was "as confident as we can be" about restarting in June.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52818258
Ramsdale initially tested negative but returned a positive test days later.
The 22-year-old was asymptomatic but is one of eight people to test positive from across the Premier League so far.
"I imagine anxiety is there among the players," Howe told the Daily Mail. "I can only imagine they are feeling the same way as I am.'
"There was not one positive within our group during the early stages and we were comfortable and felt OK," added Howe, who was the first Premier League manager to take a pay cut during the coronavirus crisis.
"But as soon as you get that one positive test, that changes the mindset of everybody.
"Suddenly everyone feels vulnerable, everyone is alerted to the fact that this is serious and real.
"Then the unknown comes into play. That shook us. We are now waiting for our next testing times to see if anyone else was in contact with the player."
What is the latest with Project Restart?
BBC Sports News correspondent Laura Scott
So far eight people from Premier League clubs have tested positive after 1,744 tests including Ramsdale, Watford defender Adrian Mariappa and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan.
The results of the third round of coronavirus tests results are expected to be made public on Wednesday.
Squads started non-contact training last Tuesday for the first time since the Premier League was suspended on 13 March because of the pandemic, with 92 fixtures remaining.
The government has since approved guidance that allows elite sport to return to contact training, and the league discussed that with captains, managers and representatives from the Professional Footballers' Association and League Managers' Association on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, clubs will vote on whether to return to contact training. If they vote in favour it could come in this week.
Clubs will discuss further issues on Thursday including the use of neutral stadiums, how to decide the season in the event of curtailment and voting on rebates to broadcasters.
Speaking on Friday, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the league was "as confident as we can be" about restarting in June.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52818258
Abdullah719
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Premier League clubs vote unanimously to approve return to contact training</p>— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1265603491336241153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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