PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are scrambling to buy face masks as stars return to training ahead of the proposed June 8 season-restart.
Top-flight stars have been ordered to cover their faces when they get back to work, with Arsenal and Tottenham already in training.
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Clubs are racing to buy face masks for their players in a bid to get back to training
It is all part of the rules laid out in “Project Restart” with clubs determined to finish the season rather than cancel it, like France, Belgium and Holland.
And with all clubs keen to get a head-start on the competition, they’ve raced to purchase face masks for their players and staff.
Altitude Mask founder – and football agent – Saif Rubie told Sky Sports News: “In the last three days we have been inundated with requests, mainly from the Bundesliga and the Premier League.
“Our product has been sent out to six or seven Premier League clubs in the last couple of days.”
Rubie continued by saying a host of Premier League stars already used his masks.
He added: “A lot of our current users are some of the biggest players in the Premier League. They used our products even before all this happened.
“We’ve always been at the forefront of creating the best environment for training and respiratory activity.
“I can’t tell you exactly which clubs. But we’ve worked with some of the biggest clubs.
“Crystal Palace, West Ham, Bournemouth and a couple of the Chelsea players have all used our products in the past.
“I think recently Michy Batshuayi posted on social media wearing one of our masks when training.
“Marcus Rashford has used it in the past, so has Dele Alli and Gareth Bale. Even boxer Anthony Joshua too.”
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Rubie went on to say he’s been speaking with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) in regards to his product and the season’s return.
He continued: “I’ve also been in discussions with the PFA. They are fully up to date with what’s going on.
“We want to do our best to give our support and hopefully see the return of Premier League football and boost the morale of the country.”
League chiefs have sent a games schedule around to all 20 clubs ahead of a crunch meeting on Friday.
The best-case scenario would see the first behind-closed-doors games take place on Monday June 8, meaning training would resume in full in mid-May.
However, the entire concept is based on the current coronavirus lockdown measures being eased.
With the next Government review of the lockdown due to take place on May 7, it is still unclear whether restrictions will be relaxed in time for the Premier League’s desired return date.
Under the proposed plan, players are set to be tested for Covid-19 over the weekend of May 8 and 9 before returning to training in small groups from Monday May 11.
Some clubs, including Arsenal and Tottenham, have already returned to training little by little, while still observing social distancing rules.
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The Government has warned football will not be given any special treatment and players and staff would still need to be tested before play resumes.
Stars could be forced to train under quarantine and there have even been talks of players turning up for sessions already in their kits to avoid changing rooms.
Mass testing will be made available for all players, staff and media at training grounds and stadiums as they desperately try to cram all remaining fixtures into just a six-week period.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
