CRYSTAL PALACE chairman Steve Parish has said the Premier League should return if it is safe to do so otherwise the game might never fully recover.
Eagles owner Parish is the latest figure in football to have their say on Project Restart as bosses plan the return of top-flight football amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has waded into the debate over the Premier League’s planned return from lockdownCredit: PA:Press Association
Gary Neville has been particularly vocal on the Premier League’s proposals around a return to play despite the coronavirus pandemicCredit: PA:Press Association
The latest development in the ongoing talks to bring Premier League action back, after play was halted by the outbreak of Covid-19, suggests the league will return on June 12.
Games are to be staged behind closed doors and at neutral venues but all depends on the government signing off on the proposals.
Whether or not football should resume with the public health crisis raging on has split opinion throughout the game.
Palace chief Parish waded into the debate on Twitter after Manchester United legend and TV pundit Gary Neville called out clubs for their silence on the matter.
Neville has been particularly outspoken on the issue, criticising the Premier League’s handling of Project Restart and labelling bosses as “frightened to death”.
Neville tweeted: “It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.”
Parish replied: “There are no easy answers. But we need to try to play if we can make it safe. I believe we can and should continue however imperfect the other elements: neutral venues empty stadia etc.
“If we can’t make it work then I fear for next season. The game might never fully recover.”
Writing in the Sunday Times, Parish explained that the Premier League could become a pioneer for new working conditions and that the return of football could be a big mental health boost.
He said: “Football is meaningless — but it is magnificently meaningless. It has the power to lighten lives; why not see if we can use that power again?”
However, he made it clear that football’s return should not detract from the NHS or reduce testing capacity.
He added: “I’ve seen all the proposals for training and travel and while there are challenges, those proposals offer a level of protection to players, staff and officials that I believe will render Premier League football one of the safest places in society to co-exist, much safer than a journey to the supermarket at present.”
Premier League clubs have agreed to play at eight neutral venues if the Government agrees football can restart
Parish recognised that money is a big factor in the debate but underlined his desire for the competition to be completed for reasons of sporting integrity and warned the failure to do so could cause years worth of drama.
He said: “I want to crown Liverpool champions and give every other club a fair crack at the best league position they can achieve.
“I certainly don’t want to have difficult conversations about curtailing, voiding and points per game. The ramifications of each are complex and could involve legal challenges that run on for months, if not years.”
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has four major issues over Premier League returning to action including neutral venues
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
