Welcome to the Evening Standard's LIVE coverage as the coronavirus crisis continues to heavily impact sport across the globe.
Latest coronavirus sports news...
- 'Majority' of players uncomfortable with top-flight return
- Coronavirus could cost clubs £3.5billion, report claims
- Coe: Athletics could be staged behind closed doors
- European season will finish in August, says UEFA chief
- Sterling says players need full month of training before return
- Uefa's Ceferin reveals 'issues' with Euro 2020 host cities
- Premier League players 'won't be ready for weeks'
- Everton offer refunds for remaining home matches
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Project Restart is given green light by Government ahead of Monday’s crunch meeting
The UK Government has ‘opened the door’ for the 2019-20 Premier League season to resume in June ahead on Project Restart’s crunch meeting on Monday.
The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden, chaired a meeting on Thursday with chief executives from the Premier League, EFL and Football Association to discuss plans to restart the season next month.
After following what Dowden described as ‘positive talks’, we may see professional football return next month.
"Today's positive meeting I hosted with the football authorities progressed plans for the resumption of the professional game in England," said Dowden.
"We all agreed that we will only go ahead if it is safe to do so and the health and welfare of players, coaches and staff comes first.
"The Government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June.
"This should include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game's resumption supports the wider football family.
"It is now up to the football authorities to agree and finalise the detail of their plans, and there is combined goodwill to achieve this for their fans, the football community and the nation as a whole.
"The Government and our medical experts will continue to offer guidance and support to the game ahead of any final decision which would put these plans into action."
