This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
As the English top flight seeks to follow Germany's Bundesliga in resuming play, Premier League clubs face a multitude of challenges, including ensuring player safety and resolving divisions over proposals to end the season.
On Monday, clubs will convene for further talks on 'Project Restart,' a plan to revive the season amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, players, coaches, and staff have expressed concerns over the safety of returning to training and competition, citing the need for robust protocols to address potential positive test cases.
According to reports, players will require regular testing, with tests being privately sourced at a significant cost to the clubs. The British government is expected to provide guidance on Monday regarding the resumption of training in small groups, following the easing of the lockdown in England by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Recent cases of the virus in squads in Germany, Italy, and Spain have highlighted the need for a unified response. While German second-tier side Dynamo Dresden has placed their entire squad in a 14-day quarantine, five La Liga players who tested positive have been quarantined at home, allowing their teammates to continue training.
Players have voiced their concerns, with Norwich midfielder Todd Cantwell tweeting, "We are just people too." A study by the Office for National Statistics has also raised concerns, showing that black people are nearly twice as likely to die with coronavirus as white people in England and Wales.
The Premier League's desire to complete the campaign is driven by economic necessity, with clubs standing to lose an estimated £1 billion if the season is not finished. However, financial worries are causing divisions among the 20 top-flight clubs, with some opposing plans to play the remaining 92 games at neutral venues.
League chiefs believe that limiting the number of venues will reduce the medical, police, security, and broadcast personnel required, increasing the chances of securing the government's green light to restart. However, executives at Brighton, West Ham, and Aston Villa have publicly opposed the neutral venues plan, sparking concerns that the season may not be completed.
