Clubs in the English Premier League are converging Monday to discuss plans to reopen the current season, after it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, following the proposed detailed policy instructions to be issued by the UK government.
A series of meetings have been lined up for this week, as well as with the government, who are expected to release plans and guidelines for elite sport on Tuesday.
It is expected that there would be no vote on the proposal for games to be held at neutral grounds, however, consultations will be carried out throughout the next few days with players and managers, including government officials and medical experts.
The English Premier League is seeking to get approval to restart the 2019/2020 season in June but has to present the European governing body UEFA details of their strategies by May 25.
As it stands, anytime the campaign is restarted, it would see matches played beyond the June 30 date, which marks the formal end of the season.
FIFA has released guidelines and instructions implying that contracts due to end within the period can be extended until the end of the lengthened season. However, clubs have shown concern about the legal implications of players’ refusal.
NEUTRAL VENUE DEBATE
On a broader scale, for the issue of ‘Project Restart’, the meeting is likely to be focused on addressing concerns from some of the clubs facing relegation, about the fairness of playing games at neutral venues.
Relegation carries significant financial setback for clubs and some have moved a motion for no teams to be demoted this season.
The chief executive of 17th-placed Watford has noted that plans to resume the season at neutral venues are unfair and that there could be enough clubs in opposition to stop the idea.
The idea of using a select number of neutral grounds is to ensure only those venues that are deemed to have the best ability to create a secure and safe environment host the remaining games.
Authorities believe that playing at neutral grounds will reduce the risk of fans gathering outside and putting pressure on security staff.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s chief executive Paul Barber, whose club are 15th and says relegation would cost them around 200 million pounds ($246.32 million), has also expressed opposition to using neutral grounds.
“If we end up finishing the season by playing out our remaining games home and away, and we still get relegated, then we’ll be relegated on a sporting basis which is entirely fair. We have to accept that and we would accept that,” he said.
“What we wouldn’t accept is being relegated with the competition changing three quarters of the way through and I think that would be same for any club in our position.”
In order for a vote to pass, at least 14 of the 20 Premier League clubs most support a motion, provided there are no abstentions.
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