Richard Masters has said the Premier League retains some hope that supporters will be allowed to return to stadiums in restricted numbers this season, with the chief executive admitting that football has been treated differently compared to other sports by the government during the pandemic.
Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football event, Masters said that it will be next season before significant numbers return to games but is keen to see turnstiles open for smaller crowds before the conclusion of the current campaign.
That will depend on a number of factors, including a staged lifting of the current nationwide lockdown, but with case numbers falling and the vaccine rollout working there is renewed optimism.
"No one can say because this pandemic has a way of surprising you, as it did over Christmas, but we've not lost hope we will see a few back this season," Masters said.
"Certainly next season I hope it opens up quickly, we can work with the government again, and get fans back into stadiums in real numbers."
Asked if he felt the Premier League was made an example of and treated more harshly by the government in comparison to other sports, Masters said that the sport has been a victim of its own success.
"There have been a number of instances where football has been treated differently to others but it's the flip side to being the success story we are," he added. "The optics of being seen to do the right thing is important. We're making progress."
