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Project Restart: How realistic is Premier League plan to resume season?
By Dan Roan
BBC sports editor
29 minutes ago From the section Premier League
When Premier League club executives link up for a crucial video conference call on Friday they will do so amid unprecedented pressure, and mounting unease.
The tension surrounds not only how the plan to resume the football season behind closed doors at a small number of sealed and approved venues should develop, but whether it is realistic, responsible or indeed appropriate to pursue it at all.
The sense is that hopes of a return to action by early June now hang by a thread.
Confidence has undoubtedly been shaken by the French government's decision to put elite sport on hold until September, along with the warnings of medical experts and player representatives about the health risks of rushing back into action.
Some clubs are worried the sporting integrity of the competition could be compromised if only certain venues are used and they play fewer games at their home ground than their rivals. Others say they feel pressured into agreeing to play by politicians and league bosses when they would prefer the season to be abandoned.
Matches at original venues 'present challenges' to emergency services
La Liga plans training return as soon as possible
Privately, the mood within both the Premier League and in Whitehall suggests cautious optimism remains.
And there are some reasons for positivity too. Political leaders in Switzerland, for instance, have announced that the country's Super League will "probably" resume on 8 June if there's no worsening of the outbreak. Uefa's medical chief Professor Tim Meyer, meanwhile, has said it is "definitely possible" to plan for the suspended 2019-20 season to restart. Read into that what you will.
But by the time Friday's Premier League meeting takes place, is there a real danger that Project Restart could have suffered a false start?
The clubs know that, ultimately, they will take their lead from government, and their medical and scientific experts. That was proved by what happened across the Channel, where the French league's modelling and scenario planning was suddenly rendered meaningless when Prime Minister Edouard Philippe made his shock announcement, and the season was abruptly cancelled, as it has been in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Government approval in the UK relies on key criteria such as improved testing capacity, and a relaxation of social distancing rules being met.
But ministers and their advisers will also be hanging on Angela Merkel's every word on Thursday when the German chancellor addresses regional leaders, and no doubt discusses the Bundesliga's plans to resume matches in mid-May - plans that have acted as a source of inspiration to other countries around Europe.
But with a recent spike in cases in Germany raising fears that their lockdown may be tightened again, if Merkel follows the French in ruling sport out for several months, some believe the game could be up for the Premier League too.
'Avoid playing competitive football' - Fifa's medical committee chair
How realistic would it be, after all, that Germany, which has suffered far fewer cases and deaths from coronavirus than the UK, and has conducted many more tests, could deem sport too dangerous, but that conclusion not be reached here?
Liverpool v Atletico Madrid virus link an 'interesting hypothesis'
And with so much scrutiny of whether the British government was too slow to shut sport down last month, and whether events like the Cheltenham Festival and Liverpool's Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid at Anfield are linked to the numbers of local cases, the UK would surely not want to be an outlier.
This time last week, amid growing anxiety over the apparent financial crisis that abandoning the season would trigger, the Premier League's hopes of a return to action were beginning to fade.
But then, with frustration growing among some executives at what they saw as a lack of guidance from government, suddenly came encouragement.
With Prime Minister Boris Johnson preparing to return to work after recuperating from his own brush with coronavirus, the league was told Downing Street wanted top-flight football back as soon as possible, to help boost people's morale after months in lockdown, and to support the game commercially, with many jobs on the line and the wider football industry desperate for a restart.
Premier League bosses had let it be known just how important it was that the season be completed, pointing to the three-quarters of a billion pounds that contractually would have to be paid back to live TV rights-holders Sky and BT.
Whether the two broadcasters actually intend to demand all of the refund they are entitled to if the season cannot resume remains unclear. I understand they are considering asking to show more matches next year, or requesting a year's free extension to their current deal to mitigate the damage their businesses have suffered. But some kind of compensation will almost certainly have to be paid.
Last weekend BBC Sport revealed that football's senior medical experts, along with their counterparts in rugby, racing and cricket, were to be invited to a series of virtual meetings, in what was described to me as a "quickening of the pace" in preparations for a resumption.
Ministers continued to make supportive statements to the media and in parliament. A number of clubs reopened their training grounds for restricted use by their players. Premier League club doctors held a meeting of their own to discuss hygiene standards and proposed twice-weekly testing of players. Clubs were asked to consider the concept of playing in sealed, neutral venues. Broadcasters have been told to work out the minimum numbers of staff they would need at matches.
But major questions still need to be answered if professional sport is to get back on the pitch any time soon, while avoiding damaging headlines.
How do football and other major sports avoid being a drain on an under-strain NHS if athletes are injured and need an ambulance or hospital treatment?
How acceptable is it that highly paid stars have access to tests while members of the public are struggling to get them, even if the sporting tests are being funded privately?
And what if fans gather outside stadiums or elsewhere to celebrate, with the pressure on policing that would inevitably involve?
After the controversial furloughing of staff by some clubs, an unseemly row with players over proposed wage cuts, and some regrettable failures to uphold social distancing rules by some teams, football can ill-afford more blows to its reputation.
Exactly seven weeks ago the Premier League found itself in a similar position to the precarious one it faces now. With sports event across the world shutting down or going behind closed doors, it defiantly pressed on, issuing a statement insisting that the following weekend's fixtures would go ahead as planned.
Accused of poor judgement, less than an hour later it was forced into announcing an emergency meeting when Arsenal revealed coach Mikel Arteta had contracted coronavirus. No football matches have been played since.
On that occasion, with the government still insisting it was safe for such events to continue, the Premier League and other sports authorities were left to reach their own conclusions.
But several weeks on, much has changed, and the stakes have become even higher. And this time, one suspects the decision will be taken out of football's hands.
By Dan Roan
BBC sports editor
29 minutes ago From the section Premier League
When Premier League club executives link up for a crucial video conference call on Friday they will do so amid unprecedented pressure, and mounting unease.
The tension surrounds not only how the plan to resume the football season behind closed doors at a small number of sealed and approved venues should develop, but whether it is realistic, responsible or indeed appropriate to pursue it at all.
The sense is that hopes of a return to action by early June now hang by a thread.
Confidence has undoubtedly been shaken by the French government's decision to put elite sport on hold until September, along with the warnings of medical experts and player representatives about the health risks of rushing back into action.
Some clubs are worried the sporting integrity of the competition could be compromised if only certain venues are used and they play fewer games at their home ground than their rivals. Others say they feel pressured into agreeing to play by politicians and league bosses when they would prefer the season to be abandoned.
Matches at original venues 'present challenges' to emergency services
La Liga plans training return as soon as possible
Privately, the mood within both the Premier League and in Whitehall suggests cautious optimism remains.
And there are some reasons for positivity too. Political leaders in Switzerland, for instance, have announced that the country's Super League will "probably" resume on 8 June if there's no worsening of the outbreak. Uefa's medical chief Professor Tim Meyer, meanwhile, has said it is "definitely possible" to plan for the suspended 2019-20 season to restart. Read into that what you will.
But by the time Friday's Premier League meeting takes place, is there a real danger that Project Restart could have suffered a false start?
The clubs know that, ultimately, they will take their lead from government, and their medical and scientific experts. That was proved by what happened across the Channel, where the French league's modelling and scenario planning was suddenly rendered meaningless when Prime Minister Edouard Philippe made his shock announcement, and the season was abruptly cancelled, as it has been in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Government approval in the UK relies on key criteria such as improved testing capacity, and a relaxation of social distancing rules being met.
But ministers and their advisers will also be hanging on Angela Merkel's every word on Thursday when the German chancellor addresses regional leaders, and no doubt discusses the Bundesliga's plans to resume matches in mid-May - plans that have acted as a source of inspiration to other countries around Europe.
But with a recent spike in cases in Germany raising fears that their lockdown may be tightened again, if Merkel follows the French in ruling sport out for several months, some believe the game could be up for the Premier League too.
'Avoid playing competitive football' - Fifa's medical committee chair
How realistic would it be, after all, that Germany, which has suffered far fewer cases and deaths from coronavirus than the UK, and has conducted many more tests, could deem sport too dangerous, but that conclusion not be reached here?
Liverpool v Atletico Madrid virus link an 'interesting hypothesis'
And with so much scrutiny of whether the British government was too slow to shut sport down last month, and whether events like the Cheltenham Festival and Liverpool's Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid at Anfield are linked to the numbers of local cases, the UK would surely not want to be an outlier.
This time last week, amid growing anxiety over the apparent financial crisis that abandoning the season would trigger, the Premier League's hopes of a return to action were beginning to fade.
But then, with frustration growing among some executives at what they saw as a lack of guidance from government, suddenly came encouragement.
With Prime Minister Boris Johnson preparing to return to work after recuperating from his own brush with coronavirus, the league was told Downing Street wanted top-flight football back as soon as possible, to help boost people's morale after months in lockdown, and to support the game commercially, with many jobs on the line and the wider football industry desperate for a restart.
Premier League bosses had let it be known just how important it was that the season be completed, pointing to the three-quarters of a billion pounds that contractually would have to be paid back to live TV rights-holders Sky and BT.
Whether the two broadcasters actually intend to demand all of the refund they are entitled to if the season cannot resume remains unclear. I understand they are considering asking to show more matches next year, or requesting a year's free extension to their current deal to mitigate the damage their businesses have suffered. But some kind of compensation will almost certainly have to be paid.
Last weekend BBC Sport revealed that football's senior medical experts, along with their counterparts in rugby, racing and cricket, were to be invited to a series of virtual meetings, in what was described to me as a "quickening of the pace" in preparations for a resumption.
Ministers continued to make supportive statements to the media and in parliament. A number of clubs reopened their training grounds for restricted use by their players. Premier League club doctors held a meeting of their own to discuss hygiene standards and proposed twice-weekly testing of players. Clubs were asked to consider the concept of playing in sealed, neutral venues. Broadcasters have been told to work out the minimum numbers of staff they would need at matches.
But major questions still need to be answered if professional sport is to get back on the pitch any time soon, while avoiding damaging headlines.
How do football and other major sports avoid being a drain on an under-strain NHS if athletes are injured and need an ambulance or hospital treatment?
How acceptable is it that highly paid stars have access to tests while members of the public are struggling to get them, even if the sporting tests are being funded privately?
And what if fans gather outside stadiums or elsewhere to celebrate, with the pressure on policing that would inevitably involve?
After the controversial furloughing of staff by some clubs, an unseemly row with players over proposed wage cuts, and some regrettable failures to uphold social distancing rules by some teams, football can ill-afford more blows to its reputation.
Exactly seven weeks ago the Premier League found itself in a similar position to the precarious one it faces now. With sports event across the world shutting down or going behind closed doors, it defiantly pressed on, issuing a statement insisting that the following weekend's fixtures would go ahead as planned.
Accused of poor judgement, less than an hour later it was forced into announcing an emergency meeting when Arsenal revealed coach Mikel Arteta had contracted coronavirus. No football matches have been played since.
On that occasion, with the government still insisting it was safe for such events to continue, the Premier League and other sports authorities were left to reach their own conclusions.
But several weeks on, much has changed, and the stakes have become even higher. And this time, one suspects the decision will be taken out of football's hands.
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hospitals are running at 50% capacity
tough shifting all the players around to play with the knowledge fans dont want to stay home. add on who is going to insure a £100 million footballer against an unnecessary risk? given if one gets it then whole team will be in quarantine and season really would be over. |
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Not realistic at all.
How many have already been disciplined for not following lockdown ? How are they stop themselves from the constant habit of spitting / celebrating a goal jumping all over each other ? The football authorities are in cloud cuckoo land because of the money involved. The problem from not finishing the season is what if the same happened again in 2020/21. Imagine reading a book and the last chapters missing , 30 minutes of the film you are watching missing ,or the final 4 episodes of a tv show. Fans will give up on the sport in this scenario. The end of professional football is the only answer . |
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Imagine Merseyside when Liverpool finally get over the line, good luck dealing with the social distancing when that happens.
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Precisely - Do they think that Liverpool fans are just going to sit on their sofas, watching Liverpool win a match, and consequently the Title - and then just go into the kitchen and put the kettle on.
Thousands of Scousers will descend on Anfield - especially the kids and teenagers - although, most of the grown-ups will be acting like kids, too - with the attitude and mindset of ... 'Sod the lockdown - How are they going to arrest 30,000 of us'? |
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Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson says resuming the Premier League is a "non-starter", and he fears a "farcical" situation with fans congregating outside Anfield - even if Liverpool clinch the title at a neutral venue.
The Premier League has told its clubs only "approved venues" will be used, raising the possibility of matches being played at neutral grounds. Liverpool, chasing their first title for 30 years, lead the table by 25 points with nine games remaining, while the league hopes to restart on 8 June. The league's "Project Restart" envisages the season resuming behind closed doors because of social distancing measures in place to battle the coronavirus pandemic. Liverpool say they are "disappointed" with Anderson's comments. The national lead for football policing said on Wednesday that playing all remaining Premier League and EFL fixtures at their original venues would "present challenges" to the emergency services. Deputy chief constable Mark Roberts said "options" need to be looked at. Anderson, Liverpool's first directly elected mayor, told BBC Sport: "Even if it was behind closed doors, there'd be many thousands of people who would turn up outside Anfield. "There's not many people who would respect what we were saying and stay away from the ground, a lot of people would come to celebrate so I think it's a non-starter." Asked about whether playing at a neutral venue would help, he said: "Even then, I guess that a lot of people would turn up outside Anfield to celebrate and I understand the police's concerns around that, so there's a real difficulty here for us. "I think it would be really difficult for the police to keep people apart and maintain social distancing if they were going to celebrate outside Anfield. It would be farcical. "It's difficult for us to try to stop people gathering in parks when the weather has been good, especially young people. And I fear people would just ignore it. "The police are right to be concerned about that as we are here in the city, and pubic health officials are also concerned about that, so we'd ask the Premier League and government to take into account all of these concerns that we have." In a statement, Liverpool said: "As well as a lack of evidence to support such claims, we would also point to recent discussions with mayor Anderson relating to the possibility of any behind-closed-doors football, which concluded that it is important that key stakeholders across the city continue to engage and work collaboratively. "In recent weeks, we have engaged with supporters' groups who have informed us of their determination to respect social distancing measures and, in the event of a resumption of football being announced, we would continue to work with them and other key stakeholders in keeping with our collective desire to achieve this crucial objective. "As part of our ongoing operations, we are in regular contact with the mayor and his office and we hope these conversations can continue." 'Liverpool should be champions - but end the season' Anderson added: "I think the best thing to do is to actually end the season. "It isn't just about Liverpool - they've clearly won the league - they deserve it, they should be crowned league champions. "The bottom line is, though, this is about health and safety and people's lives and I think football should have to come second in regards to making a choice here." More than 300 people have died from coronavirus in Liverpool hospitals. The Premier League will hold a meeting on Friday morning when Project Restart will be discussed. Meanwhile, the senior medical directors of the FA, Premier League, Rugby Football Union, England and Wales Cricket Board and the British Horse Racing Authority will also hold talks on Friday in the first of a series of meetings to discuss the feasibility of a return to play. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam, UK Sport CEO Sally Munday and a representative of the Sports Ground Safety Authority will also be on the call. BBC Sport has learned that sports leaders will be asked to give evidence to MPs at a Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee hearing on Tuesday on the impact of the crisis on sport. |
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As they used to say in the old days:I reckon there's 2 chances of another ball being kicked this season - slim and none - and slim's just left town.
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Being Liverpool I assume Joe Anderson is a 'Labour' mayor ,but what a breath of fresh air that he states the obvious without equivocation.....well done sir.
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I think the majority of liverpool fc fans, those who attend the games at least, come from outside the city limits.
You are not going to get 50,000 supporters descending on anfield from all points north south east and west if they are declared champions. What you might get is an urban riot of sorts. I remember when the Ars3nal won the league in 98 it was the cue for some sort of disturbance around the finsbury park area. Cars set on fire, minor looting that sort of thing. In the states it happens all the time. Memorably Boston red sox fans went on the rampage after their first world series in 86 years in 2004 Obviously the nature of the lockdown means the streets should be empty. But we all know they are not. Gangs of kids are wandering aimlessly around our big cities, doing what kids sometimes do. Annoying the hell out of anyone around them. So if Liv do get their title it wont be the supporters who pay for season tickets congregating in the city of liverpool. And as Eric Diers uncle ted croker (secretary to the FA at the time) once said to mrs thatcher.. They are not football's problem, prime minister. They are society's problem. |
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Should finish the season tomorrow, how they decide how many sides go up and down will be up to them, but there again, who knows if we'll even be able to start next season on time or even play next seasons fixtures, if the worst case scenario happens.
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I would be amazed if they manage to finish this season. The players are scattered all over the world. Then there's their state of mind Cresswell spoke of being "petrified" at the thought of playing. Aguero said players are "scared". They've concerns for their families which is understandable.
I'm watching the Nicaraguan and Belarus leagues they are just getting on with it. Even before the crisis my love for football and footballers was waning. I'm not sure they have covered themselves in glory during this period. I thought I would really miss it. I don't. |
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I'd like this season to be written off , premier clubs (and the dreadful PFA) go bust , and then rise from the ashes with a sensible pay structure ie the biggest 'stars' earning a maximum of £10k a week.
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so the mayor of liverpool thinks there should be no more football because his city's citizens
cannot observe the prescribed regulations of social distancing..so finish the season without his team then |
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Er.. I think his team is Everton.
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The mayor was simply agreeing with the wise heads on the forum
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The Premier League’s 20 clubs outlined at a meeting on Friday their determination to complete the season amid the pandemic.
Although no decisions were taken on the next steps, the participants are understood to have been pleased with the progress made. A lengthy meeting included plenty of discussion about logistics, including how to lock down grounds and create safe environments, the possibility of playing matches at neutral venues, and protocols around testing, including the regularity with which those should be done. In a statement the league said: "The clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019-20 season, maintaining integrity of the competition and welcomed the government’s support. 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." |
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They played an entire season in 1919 - 1920 even though spanish flu killed 228,000 in the UK mainly younger people if they fought through it so can we
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The Premier League’s clubs put on a united front during a three-and-a-half-hour video conference on Friday saying they remained determined to find a way to complete the season in the face of the Covid-19 crisis, with the use of neutral stadiums without fans now a prerequisite.
But the harmony is not complete, with more than one club privately feeling the campaign ought to end because the obstacles to the hoped-for resumption in mid-June are simply too great. The Premier League issued a lengthy statement after the conference call and one line stood out. “It was agreed that the PFA, LMA, players and managers are key to this process and will be further consulted,” it said. The PFA knows that what the government and Premier League want is fundamental and the government has said football should return as soon as it is safe to do so; this is partly for the lift that it would give to the population. The government on Friday began a set of meetings with sporting bodies to map a route towards resumptions. There are players and club staff members who think the resumption of the season is wishful thinking; they cannot see how the rates of infection will drop to a manageable level quickly enough but, for now, it is a waiting game until the government indicates next Thursday whether they can ease the current lockdown. The Premier League will meet again next Friday. Eight to 10 stadiums are being identified for use as neutral venues. Almost all are expected to be Premier League grounds and clubs would not play in their own stadium. The move follows advice from police but not all clubs support it. Stadiums chosen will be those granted licences by the sports grounds safety authority. That will take into account factors such as their suitability for respecting physical distancing inside the stadium, for keeping people away from the outside of the stadium and local infection rates. There was a preference articulated for grounds – such as Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium and Brighton’s Amex Stadium – which are away from highly populated urban centres. The league aims to ensure that clubs would not have to travel long distances and travel be as equally spread as possible. |
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It's like watching a beached fish flapping around before expiring.
Give the league to Liverpool Man City banned from Europe Man Utd vs Sheffield Utd playoff for Champion/Europa Leagues Wolves, Spurs & Arsenal Europa League Bournemouth & Norwich relegated Aston Villa vs Watford playoff for final relegation position Leeds, Fulham & West Brom promoted Concentrate on getting 20/21 season in place. |
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Haddock or cod
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3 german members... players???... test positive at FC Cologne.
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Cologne have announced three people at the club have tested positive for coronavirus – yet training will continue ahead of the Bundesliga’s return.
The German top flight looks set to become the first major league to return to action as the world continues to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. Clubs are back in training with a mid-May resumption on the cards, but Cologne’s arrangements have received a setback. The club, 10th in the Bundesliga, said that “after three positive tests, three people at FC Köln are now in quarantine”, but also that “the group training can continue”. In a statement, Cologne said they “had the entire team and coaching staff, along with the backroom staff, tested on Thursday for Covid-19. Three people tested positive, all are symptom free. |
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what would happen in a moumba,swallowed tongue moment,physio,s ,dr,s ,player looking around at each other wasting secondsw deciding if they can or cant give mouth to m,outh,shove fingers down players throats, open wounds etc,etc,, to much pressure on to few people deciding who makes decisions, with all the sptitting,gobbing,snorting players do in a game playing in masks plainly ridiculous, these game will be like testimonial games,regards tacking,collisions etc etc
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under track and trace in England,surely in a cologne situation the whole squad would have to isolate for 14 days whether they test positive or negative, due to incubation period,Asympomatic etc,etc
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Sheer madness to start playing a contact sport within next few weeks. The litigation that will ensue should a player contract the disease from training or playing should be enough to deter a restart however all the Football governing bodies can think about is the cash that they will forfeit should the competitions be abandoned.
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^^^^
Spot on. Makes no sense they should start planning for next season potentially starting in about 3 months time. |
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Not certain I understand all the comments here really. If football can't be restarted for several months, surely the rest of society can't either?
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Not really possible to practice social distancing playing football. Many facets of society can easily.
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The EPL has no chance, we keep getting these meetings with all the clubs agreeing in principal to get the season done, but they don't all mean it. When it comes to it, sides at risk will rail against neutral venues, players health, players themselves will voice concerns over not wanting to risk their children and the EPL won't be able to do a bloody thing about it.
They know this of course but it does not serve to call time now, they have to hold out, going through this weekly charade right to the bitter end because at that point, if time has finally run out, if they can point to the fact that GOVT has not allowed them to restart, they may be able to leverage something out of Govt that could help offset that T.V. deal. |
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And just wait for the dimensions of pitches to changed after we have Johnson try to convince us that 1 metre is the same as 2 metres
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Premier league needs to fly in couple charter flights full of belorussians players and sign them to end this season, problem solved.
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As long as it does not compromise the best league in the world and the nicaraguan league too. I don't want pathetic stuff like the epl getting in the way of the betting pages etc as we scoop the gold from belarus etc.
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Storm Alert 02 May 20 12:38
Not really possible to practice social distancing playing football. Many facets of society can easily. The underground would have to restrict each carriage to about 8 people. At least they'll all get a seat. |
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JC1326 • May 2, 2020 1:15 PM BST
Not certain I understand all the comments here really. If football can't be restarted for several months, surely the rest of society can't either? ----------- Think you have got that the wrong way around. |
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Not sure it is the wrong way round. If you cant have 22 players on a pitch for 90 mins, you sure as hell cant have the underground running at anywhere near capacity ,24/7.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_football
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if we couldn't play til December, (though I would imagine football would be underway behind closed doors to begin with, quite a bit before that) than you'd have to cancel this 19/20 season altogether for the many contractual issues for players/managers and excess transfer windows/huge squad numbers for 1 season, and start the 2020/21 season instead, stopping for the European Championship break, then resuming to finish by October, then start the 2021/22 season the next month and finish July 2022, then start the 2022/23 season in August and we're back on track. Shorter pre season breaks but still all doable.
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just keep the belarus league and reserves going - much cheaper and more profitable for bettors
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There are huge contractual issues with extending the season beyond 30 June. You can't just say to a player whose contract ends then that it is extended unilaterally. UEFA and leagues can extend squad sizes, transfer windows and FFP periods themselves, but not player contracts without each player's agreement.
You don't have to cancel seasons either. You can award prizes and positions with no further games as some leagues have already done. I don't think they will relegate anyone from the PL without the games being played - it is a no brainer for those clubs to sue given the amount of money at stake, much more than any other league. European places decided by play-offs if they can't play all games, another big legal problem if they can't do this relatively soon. The PL is a closed shop who look after themselves. They will bin Leeds and WBA off before they relegate one of their own and if the bottom 3-6 clubs stick together that will likely be enough to ensure they are all in next season on any vote. |
We could have 5 months where football was playable, Jan-May, but no football because this season was voided.