Further talks were held yesterday about restarting this current season. ‘Operation Restart’ as it’s being referred to. As I’ve said before, I think the idea of football fixtures kicking off again is ridiculous but where there’s money, there’s often madness. Putting the players, coaches, stewards, officials and backroom staff etc at risk is a dangerous game to play. All it takes is one to have the virus.
The below is copied directly from Sky Sports:
Premier League officials say training and playing will only happen “with Government guidance, under expert medical advice, and after consultation with players and managers.” “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.
It seems that the final decision rests with the government and fixtures will be played behind closed doors which is only to be expected. How boring for the players though, how boring for the fans sat at home watching on their big screen. Still, I think it’s something we’ll all have to get used to because the return of ‘normality’ on match day is a long way off in my opinion.
Arsenal are one of the clubs left in the FA Cup which bearing in mind our current league position, winning that might be our only hope of European football next season. If there is European football next season of course. So many things yet to be sorted out in such a short time really.
What we are sure of though is Arsenal have ten fixtures left to play with a top four finish still a possibility. Not a probability but if and I still believe it’s a huge if, the restart kicks off in June, Mikel Arteta and his players have to be ready for the challenge. Good luck with that I say.
Re the neutral grounds, The Emirates is one being considered according to reports in today’s newspapers.
Sky Sports finish their report by saying UEFA want to know what’s been decided by the 25th May which doesn’t leave much time really. Next season is only three months away too so the footballing powers that be are going to be busy boys and girls. They’ll certainly have to bin their ‘too difficult trays’ because decisions have to be made. Same goes for the summer transfer window because the movement of players will need to be managed.
Thank goodness VAR aren’t the decision makers eh…
Stay safe guys and stay healthy.
The one with the smallest nose will win Micko.. lol
Morning all.
New post up now
Le Coq 2.14, catch ya for the last 5 minutes buddy lol.
rico, I can just picture it now, striker and defender in a race against each other to change face masks to beat the offside trap…….it’s a funny thought !
I know Mesut takes a lot of stick but I’d like to think he has a chance of making player of the season for taking a stand for all his fellow professionals on a minimum wage like himself & not accepting a pay cut for the summer, we could still end up with a piece of silverware yet Gooners.
Hope your all good guys & gals, stay safe & healthly.
PL clubs prepare for next season behind closed doors….
That is indeed a wild idea, Scott… speaking of Oz, I’ve just watched ‘Crikey, it’s the Irwins’…. Bindi’s wedding day, and I cried like a baby! I still can’t believe Steve is no longer here…
Cicero some players agree and so far only a couple have said no how ever one coach has all ready come out and said the players should agree as there on good money and it is for the better of the game, Me I think it is a disgrace that they are even thinking of telling players to stay away from there family ex specially the ones with young children but as they say money talks
Next Saturday on ITV @5PM the 1979 FA Cup Final!
Untold are suggesting Cyprus , small island with only 2 airports easily controlled with loads of empty hotels .
Eventually money will talk but I wonder what will happen if players no .
Morning all,
There’s a story going around that suggests the FA are looking at finishing the season here in Oz!!
We are as safe as any country in the world atm, so I guess it could be feasible, but it’s a wild old idea.
https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/premier-league/2019-2020/could-the-premier-league-season-finish-in-australia_sto7740413/story.shtml
How many players are going to agree to 5 months away from their families Geoff? Sounds like pie in the sky to me.
Hi Rico I know I am talking about Aussie rules but the AFL here are talking about putting all 16 teams ( players and minimum official’s no family member ) in one hotel for about 5 months and playing several matches per day on 2 different grounds behind closed doors
I saw that too Limey. It’ll be interesting to watch how that unfolds. Or how quick it’s stopped again..
I see the Spanish prime minister is saying he hopes football will return behind closed doors in the next few weeks.
I guess Amazon will want a part of things now.
It appears that NBC America have a deal with Sky and BT to show all Premier league games live at a cost of approx 2 billion dollars a season.
American broadcaster NBC to show live football matches for the next six years. … a record £5.1bn three-season domestic deal with BT Sport and Sky, from BBC August 2015.
I’ve no idea… lol
Sky has the licence and other outlets pay them don’t tthey ?
Matters not, I realise what you mean and yes, if Sky can, they sure as heck will.
But if they can subscribe through their own networks, Sky won’t be able to takeover surely..
yes human life should come first but at the end of the day money talks and in the eyes of some owners players are like normal workers you are just another number., and there will all ways be some one ready top take there spot,
Hi Rico and All In Australia I have Fetch Pay tv and part of my package is every Epl match and a load of your local football shows and I get some European and Europa matches live
Limey makes some really good points because the issue isn’t really with Liverpool being awarded the Premier League title, it’s the three teams who could be relegated and the huge financial hit they would take, so not relegating anyone negates that, of course the team who might have won the playoff could kick up a fuss, but with four teams in the mix it would be difficult for any one of them to take legal action.
European places could be an issue as there’s teams outside of the top places with games in hand, so the CL and Europa places are still very much in the mix which would have lawyers all over it, as is their way…
Credit to your daughter Limey, she deserves a massive bonus at the end of this…
Yes most places can but only on subscripition . All my friends in Spain annd Cyprus watch in bars so they would have to take out their own . Pay for view opportunity especially in the far East.
Can’t the PL already be viewed overseas though? I know my brother can watch pretty much who he wants in the USA. It’s only here in the UK viewing is controlled I think.
If all the other leagues pack it in then you can bet the moguls at sky will see a marketing opportunity to screen live football worldwide .This is down to the government to say no and mean it.
League is almost certainly starting here later this month, but we are in nowhere the same trouble as you guys are atm.
As of today, we can visit family and friends at home so slowly, the restrictions are being eased.
Women’s football has been cancelled I think Scott.
Morning Limey, Cicero, all.
Jm, I think you make a good point about Germany, could throw Spain in there too. The PL/FA would look rather stupid if they are the only league going ahead. I really can’t see English football resuming. Just being ready for next season is a challenge imo.
Limey, your daughter is a hero and like all the heroes of this pandemic should be given an award when it`s all over, something like the awards given out on thre Queens Birthday Honours List……………..HBE……….Hero of the British Empire!
Always thought they needed Ambulances attending football games, are they really going to take some health staff off the front line for a football match?
Anyway some good news……………………On We Hate Tottenham Reloaded we have on ITV @ 5PM Spuds Vs Coventry in an FA Cup Final classic! 😆
In my opinion, what will happen in Germany will contribute a lot to the final decision. Germany had already scheduled the return for 9 May, but canceled it. The pandemic numbers of the pandemic are growing significantly. With several championships canceled, if Germany cancels the Bundesliga, it is likely that the FA will do the same.
Morning all.
Are they authorities fighting this hard to start the women’s competitions back up?
Money talks……….
Hope you’re all well!!!
Good morning Rico. Thank you for an apposite post.
According to the BBC Sport website this morning, in order to play the 92 outstanding games will require up to 40,000 tests for players and staff. All tests would be carried out by health professionals at an NHS drive through facility that each club would have access to.
At a time when the NHS has only just reached the government target of 100,000 tests per day, and then only by including figures for home testing kits sent out to private homes, it seems ludicrous that such an extra burden should be loaded onto the testing programme which is struggling to test sick patients in care homes throughout the country.
Should the whole ridiculous scheme go ahead, the games will be played behind closed doors at up to ten neutral grounds with no team playing at their home stadium and the venues to be kept secret so as to avoid fans travelling to those matches if only to stand outside.
Is it worth it? I think not!
Morning Rico and everyone,
The greed and the wilful way the Premier league refuses to see the big picture is shocking, expected but nonetheless shocking. As potter says they will carry on until told otherwise.
It might be an unpopular opinion but I think Liverpool should be awarded the league title, all the positions awarded on points per game. No relegation(minimising a legal minefield) Leeds & WBA to be promoted for the same reason. It would mean 4 extra games for 1 season, they could easily fit the games in, maybe scrap the Carabao Cup for 1 season, and a couple of the international breaks.
Not perfect but you can’t please all the people all of the time.
Right now I’m proud of my daughter, she works in a care home, rife with the virus, with minimal protective equipment, earning less than £9 an hour.
They won’t pull out until they are told to , so that they can argue that the decision was taken out of their hands .
This of course is only for the league as the cup is a seperate entity which would have to be arranged differently.