THE Premier League season could be completed in Australia in a radical solution for football to beat the coronavirus pandemic.
SunSport exclusively revealed that English agent Gary Williams is masterminding the astonishing alternative.
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Sky Sports pundit and Manchester United legend Gary Neville has already thrown his support for the season to end abroad behind closed doors.
The FA currently have a plan for all 92 games to be played at neutral venues in the UK – but they keep running into problems.
And now Perth in Western Australia, almost 9,000 miles from London, has thrown its hat into the ring to help compete the season.
Australia has reported 93 Covid-19 deaths, compared to over 28,000 in the UK.
Here, SunSport checks out the four venues that could be chosen to help out England’s footy crisis.
Gary Williams’ eight-point proposal to the Prem
- Fly all 20 squads to Perth. Airlines would be delighted with the custom and are available.
- Base them in their own hotels, with facilities, and isolate for up to a fortnight if they have to. Perth is currently in tourist ‘off season’ anyway.
- Play games at several top venues in the city, behind closed doors or even with a limited number of local fans.
- Slash the number of medical tests needed, possibly only two in total rather than the proposed twice a week.
- Remove the need for police to control closed venues in England when the games are played.
- End concerns about travel arrangements and hotel stays. The clubs would use the same bases, close to grounds, for the duration.
- Allow families to travel over towards the end of the campaign to give them a much-needed break in a safe environment.
- Easy for TV coverage, with various kick-off times to suit English schedules.
Optus Stadium – 65,000
This is the perfect spot for the ‘Big Six’ to play out their biggest games left of the season.
The Optus Stadium can cater for 65,000 fans for “rectangular sport” – 5,000 more than it would be able to provide for Aussie rules and cricket.
It has previously hosted gigs from the likes of Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, so oozes star quality.
There are over 50 food and drink outlets inside with the stadium even having a temporary swimming pool for previous cricket matches.
The Optus Stadium would be able to hold 65,000 fans to cheer on the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
There has even been a swimming pool provided for fans at the Optus Stadium for the cricketCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Perth Oval – 20,500
Home to A-League football side Perth Glory, the Perth Oval is also known as the HBF Park and can cater for 20,500 fans.
And like it’s bigger brother the Optus Stadium, it has also welcomed music megastar Ed Sheeran.
Back in 2015 a record 32,000 people went to scream at the 29-year-old singer-songwriter.
And there is something special for Premier League fans to look forward too – one end is a standing terrace nicknamed the ‘Shed End’.
The Perth Oval has hosted football, Aussie rules and music gigsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Perth Oval is also known as the NIB Stadium and the HBF ParkCredit: Getty Images – Getty
WACA – 24,500
The legendary ‘home of Australian cricket’ could easily be transformed into football heaven.
The stadium’s name derives from the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association.
Athletics Aussie rules, baseball, football, rugby league and rugby union,have all been played at the 24,500 venue.
It has also been used for major rock concerts.
Football fans will get to enjoy the ‘home of Australian cricket’ too if games are staged at the legendary WACACredit: Getty Images – Getty
HBF Arena – 16,000
The HBF Arena is the smallest offering in terms of capacity at 16,000, but it is still more than Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium can hold at 11,329.
As well as aquatic and swimming facilities, the stadium holds seven indoor basketball courts, as well as outdoor netball, field hockey, tennis, and rugby facilities.
It is the largest athletic complex of its kind in Western Australia.
The HBF Arena holds all sorts of sports, including Aussie rules of courseCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
