PROJECT RESTART can stay on track — even if Premier League players are found to have Covid-19 when official testing begins today.
Prem bosses expect some players and club staff to test positive when contractors Prenetics carry out the first phase of the official programme over the next two days.
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Watford skipper Troy Deeney has been one of the most outspoken players over safety fears as the Prem edges closer to a returnCredit: Action Images – Reuters
West Ham defender Aaron Creswell has joined he lists of top players voicing worries about possibly returning too quicklyBut they believe the Bundesliga, which had 10 positives from an initial 1,724 tests across 36 clubs, shows that plans to resume competitive action can still move forward.
A source said: “There is an expectation that there will be positives — but that doesn’t mean the train is off the track.
“The Germans had 10 positive tests but they didn’t panic and in the second set there were none in Bundesliga 1.”
Dynamo Dresden in Bundesliga 2 did have to sit out yesterday’s restart after two stars tested positive.
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There is confidence the Prem could still move forward in similar circumstances.
Prenetics will conduct 40 tests of players and staff at each of the 20 clubs twice a week.
The results of some of today’s tests could well be known by the time representatives of all the Prem clubs meet tomorrow to discuss the next steps.
Unless there is an unexpectedly high number of positives, teams are likely to vote in favour of protocols required for training in small groups to resume on Tuesday.
By Friday, Uefa want all leagues to submit an outline of how they intend to complete their seasons.
But a delay in coming up with a plan for contact training means Prem bosses might be unable to vote on Project Restart for at least another fortnight.
It comes as more stars like Watford skipper Troy Deeney and West Ham left-back Aaron Cresswell are openly voicing their health and safety fears.
Deeney, 31, said: “I am not even talking about football at the moment — I am talking about my family’s health and that is it.
“I feel like they want to get us back to work so they can take more tax off you. Premier League players pay nearly £4billion in tax a year.”
And Cresswell, 30, tweeted: “I think it’s been made pretty clear players opinions don’t count for much along with the head medical officer of fifa.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
