Gary Neville has cast doubt over the Premier League’s proposed 12 June restart date.
The league’s “Project Restart” envisages a return to play in June at neutral venues, once given the green light from the government, but a third first team player at Brighton & Hove Albion tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, sparking fresh concerns about the league’s proposed restart.
Clubs are due to meet later on Monday to further discuss how to complete the remaining 92 matches of the season.
And Neville has expressed doubt that the Project Restart plan can proceed as planned.
“I’d be surprised if we didn’t see the PL in this meet today bump the “Project Restart” plan down the road again,” he wrote on Twitter.
“They’ve been hanging their hat on government guidance.
“There isn’t anything in [Boris Johnson’s] speech last night that will comfort the players and directors at clubs.”
A British government study has meanwhile black people are nearly twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than whites and players’ union deputy chief Bobby Barnes said young black players were apprehensive.
“There are players who have voiced genuine concerns,” the Professional Footballers Association’s Barnes told the Times.
“You’ve got players who’ve got young children, players with pregnant partners, people with underlying health conditions.
“Some of the young black players I’ve spoken to have read what’s in the press and want answers to that (government study). ‘Am I more affected in my demographic and if so why?’
“My stance with the Premier League from day one has been it’s all very well those of us in suits saying what our opinions are but we’re not going to be out there on a Saturday afternoon and we’re not going to be going back to our family.”
