Antonio Rudiger has sent a cautionary message to those seeking football's return, with the Chelsea defender saying there should be no games played unless the safety of
The Germany defender also said that he would not be morally comfortable playing while significant numbers are still dying from coronavirus.
Speaking to ZDF, Rudiger said: "If we continue to play and there is a danger, and we ignore that while people are dying somewhere in the world, I don’t know if that would sit right on my conscience.
"If everything fits and it comes from those in charge that it’s okay, there’s no danger, then we can start. But if there is a danger that it will start again and more people will get infected [we can’t start again].”
Rudiger has been notably proactive throughout the pandemic.
On top of supporting the Premier League players' campaign to support NHS Charities and a donation to his club's foundation, which has been helping local charities and frontline workers, Rudiger has also covered the catering costs of nurses in the Berlin hospital he was born in.
He would be in favour of Liverpool being given the title if the rest of the campaign is cancelled.
“Honestly, as far as I’m concerned they can give Liverpool the title,“ he said.
“At the end of the day they deserve it, they’ve had a great season and are leading the table with, oh I don’t know how many points.
“The thing is they were going to win the thing anyway, so I think the title is theirs ethically. Of course, I hope that the season can be finished and it will be sporting for everyone.
Premier League clubs are set to meet tomorrow over a video conference and will discuss the next steps in Project Restart.
A provisional date of June 8 has been set for the top flight to return and complete the campaign but a series of significant hurdles must be overcome for that to become reality.
Games would take place behind closed doors and potentially every fixture will be broadcast on television. Testing, however, remains an issue.
