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Project Restart: Approved stadiums, hotel lockdowns, testing & sterile routes needed so Premier League can resume

‘Project Restart’ is gaining momentum

The mood seems to have changed.

As football fans wait patiently to see if the 2019-20 seasons can be completed, the Premier League appears to be on course to do just that.

In recent days, details of ‘Project Restart’ – the plan to restart the Premier League – have begun to filter out.

 

Mental health & Premier League

How can the Premier League be considering its resumption when more than 20,000 people have died from Covid-19 in England?

The Times on Monday report that the UK government are keen on restarting football. Readers are told:

The government has urged the Premier League and other sporting competitions to significantly step up planning for a return to action behind closed doors in the hope of lifting the national mood during the coronavirus crisis.

The fact remains that there is fresh impetus to bring sport back, with the government now taking the view that the mental health of the nation would probably benefit from being able to watch some live sport if it can be staged safely.

 

Premier League hoping to restart on June 8

As has been discussed for several days, the Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’ is hoping to return to action on June 8.

For that to happen, Premier League clubs will need to return to training by May 18.

These clubs will need to train for three weeks before the league resumes.

 

When will the 2019-20 Premier League season finish?

If the Premier League manages to return on June 8, then the season is set to finish on July 27.

To be clear, there are 92 matches to play to complete the current league campaign.

On top of that, there are 7 FA Cup ties to play. The aim is that these games will also be shoehorned into this window.

 

“Approved stadiums” only

Football fans are also being braced for significant material changes to how the Premier League operates if ‘Project Restart’ gets the go-ahead.

Most are already aware that the Premier League will only restart with behind closed door matches.

However, the Times further confirm that the plans are that the games will only be played in “approved stadiums”. Readers are told:

Games will only take place in “approved stadiums” that meet the standards required to limit the spread of Covid-19 and demands on public services such as policing.

In all likelihood that means not all 20 Premier League grounds would be used but a conversation with the clubs, and the subject of whether the stadiums need to be neutral, has yet to be concluded.

The vote on which locations will be “approved stadiums” is scheduled for May 1st.

 

How can the Premier League ensure a sterile environment? Hotel lockdowns, screening & testing

The Mirror report that all Premier League players could be sectioned off from the rest of society in order to complete the 2019-20 season.

That includes keeping all the players in hotels for six weeks. Readers are told:

(There’s a) hotel plan, revealed in Mirror Sport last month, where players are put into lockdown in nominated hotels for up to six weeks while the fixture list is finished.

The home team will occupy one half of the hotel, the away team will then check in to play their game and that section of the hotel will be deep cleaned after they check out.

But this is just the start of the new measures which may be introduced to keep football sterile from Covid-19.

Critically, all players will need to be tested on a regular basis. The Times reveal:

The “return to play” protocol… still depends heavily on the availability of tests.

At the moment the Premier League has not made any commitment beyond stating the need for screening and testing protocols on arrival at every game.

Checks will also have to take place before teams and officials even leave for the stadium, with sterile environments created for travelling and a “sterile route” that enables personnel to transfer from transportation to the dressing room.

 

Possible changes to the rules: 5 subs

The Sun believe that if ‘Project Restart’ happens, the Premier League rule on substitutions could change.

As is well established, clubs are allowed to make a maximum of three changes per games.

However, the Sun believe that clubs might soon be able to make up to 5 subs. The red-top claim:

Premier League clubs are set to get the chance to make FIVE substitutes when the season can be resumed.

Fears over player burn-out and injuries with remaining games crammed into a matter of five weeks or less will lead to the “temporary” Law change.

 

Premier League broadcasting problems

One final issue to consider is whether all the remaining Premier League matches will be available to watch on TV.

The Times regard this subject as “particularly sensitive”.

According to the current schedule, 47 of the remaining 92 Premier League games will be televised. The paper report:

What happens with the other 45 is still being debated.

 

Also see: Fixtures & Coronavirus: Stop dates & predicted restart schedules for European leagues, Champions League & Euro 2020.

Project Restart: Fans forced to pay Sky & BT Sport as games like Man City vs Liverpool won’t be free.

La Liga fixtures expected to be forced behind closed doors until 2021.



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