THE Premier League are considering keeping match venues SECRET from the public to prevent fans from gathering outside, according to reports.
All 20 top-flight clubs are set to vote on whether “Project Restart” should go ahead on May 7.
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The Premier League are considering keeping match venues a secret from fans
On the same day, the Government is set to make a decision on the current lockdown measures – and whether or not to keep them as they are or relax them slightly.
That will help clubs decide whether or not to try to finish the season or simply give up, like in France, Belgium and Holland.
Should the season go ahead behind closed doors, Premier League officials are considering withholding the location of the venue to prevent supporters from heading down en masse, claim The Times.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has revealed the Government are set to “step up planning” for the return of elite sport – behind closed doors – to boost the morale of the nation.
Those talks will go ahead later on Friday in just another positive boost for fans.
Despite a return to live sport edging closer, the Premier League is facing an ENTIRE season being played behind closed doors unless a vaccine for coronavirus is created.
Sporting authorities are considering playing all football in England’s top-four leagues in front of empty stadiums until May 2021.
Senior officials hope to reopen grounds in December, but everything depends on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision over mass gatherings.
Should Johnson take a tough approach to events such as football matches, music festivals and concerts, it is unlikely they can go ahead without a vaccine available.
The secretary general of Fifpro – the international footballers’ union – Jonas Baer-Hoffman, said: “In terms of fans being back inside stadiums that might likely not be possible until people are vaccinated.
“So it may well be that we play a full season without spectators.”
Elsewhere, 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.
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.”
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League chiefs have sent a games schedule around to all 20 clubs ahead of a crunch meeting today.
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.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
