EPL returns, given green light by gov’t as dates set

Plans for the return of the English Premeir League football have been cleared by Boris Johnson’s office.

Football has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, plans are in place which could see games return in June.

The plans will be shown on Friday when all Premier League sides meet, where a timeline will be discussed.

The Mirror say the Government have urged the Premier League to move forward with concrete ideas of when football can return.

And Johnson’s office have now offered encouragement that a return behind closed doors in June is possible.

The detailed plan includes:

– Return to training, for individual programmes at the start of May.

– Full contact squad training, potentially in the last week of May.

– Games to resume as early as the second week in June.

– A comprehensive testing programme, paid for by the Premier League.

– Government co-operation on support services at stadiums for matches, including medical and police.

However, it’s understood the plan depends on the UK overcoming the coronavirus pandemic and death tolls dropping.

Issues such as where games will be played and whether all players can be tested will also need to be resolved before football returns.

A lot has been made of the Premier League possibly returning, with Watford chairman Scott Duxbury revealing he’s uncomfortable about games coming back.

Duxbury said: “I feel a bit uncomfortable talking about football when we are in this position.

“There is a pandemic, there are immediate needs. The running of the football club is secondary to what we are currently doing with the hospital.

Source: express uk