April 28 – As a fourth English top-flight team, Tottenham Hotspur, opened part of their training ground for light exercises on an individual basis, plans to resume the Premier League season are being stepped up in what has been labelled ‘Project Restart’.
Arsenal, Brighton, West Ham and now Spurs have allowed a modicum of light training with all staff and players maintaining social distancing measures.
A date of June 8 has been pencilled in for a Premier League restart with an end-of-July finish to fit in with UEFA’s European competition plans. This would require full training to begin by May 18.
Top-flight clubs are to meet on Friday to discuss options.
The Premier League has been suspended since March 13 because of the coronavirus pandemic but all clubs remain committed to playing this season’s 92 remaining fixtures despite the UK being one of the worst affected countries globally.
All matches are expected to be held behind closed doors, with some possibly available on free-to-air television.
However, a return to action still depends on the advice of public health authorities. World players’ union FIFPro says the return of football risks sending a “bad signal”.
“There is a huge logistical and medical/scientific question about testing and protocols but also a social one,” said secretary-general Jonas Baer-Hoffmann.
“We need guidance and protocols on how to return in a healthy and safe manner. Football is a contact sport and we feel very high protection standards are required.
“Are we sending the right message to society, and are we encouraging a healthy return to normal life? Or are we sending a bad signal that football has different rules to the rest of the world?”
FIFA’s medical committee chairman Michel D’Hooghe says that whenever games do resume, authorities should consider issuing yellow cards for spitting as it risks spreading Covid-19.
D’Hooghe said spitting “is a common practice in football and it is not very hygienic”.
“This is one of the reasons why we have to be very careful before we start again,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “I am not pessimistic but I am rather sceptical at the moment.”
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