Club doctors have written to the Premier League to express their concerns over the return of football, it has been reported.
According to The Athletic, doctors from all 20 top flight clubs have sent an email to the Premier League’s medical advisor Mark Gillett and director of football Richard Garlick.
It is claimed that the email features 100 questions and issues over players and staff returning to training.
Elite football across the UK has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, with no clear date set on when English football could resume.
Depending on government approval, the Premier League’s Project Restart proposal targets a return to training in small groups on May 18 and competitive fixtures from June 12.
The report states that the letter is split into 10 subject areas, and within each of them it warns of multiple COVID-19 concerns that the medics say have not been addressed.
Some of the subjects listed are:
- Approving guidelines that still carry risk of death
- Liability, insurance and testing for players, staff and their families
- Possible transmission via sweat and goalkeeper gloves
- Suspicions that some clubs are already ignoring guidelines
- Increased risk for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups
- Ability of emergency services to attend training ground incidents
