The Premier League faces a decisive week as discussions over Project Restart resume in the hope of resurrecting the 2019-20 season.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined plans on Sunday to increase permitted levels of exercise, but those guidelines appear to have put the brakes on a swift return for professional sport after revealing the coronavirus transmission rate is still too high to significantly ease the lockdown.
Sport in the United Kingdom has been at a standstill for a number of weeks but Premier League clubs are expected to vote on Project Restart's plans to complete the season at neutral venues in a crunch meeting on Monday.
However, Johnson indicated that - while the general population will be allowed to exercise outdoors more than once a day and play sports from Wednesday - they must do so only with those in their own households.
"We want to encourage more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise," Johnson said in his Sunday evening televised address to the nation.
"You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own households."
Johnson’s latest statement appears to rule out the prospect of football clubs returning to training anytime soon and does not improve the prospects of finishing seasons which were brought to a halt by the public health crisis.
Aside from today’s meeting, four other key briefings will take place over the next seven days, with Monday 18th’s set to be the most important of all. This could feature a vote where Premier League clubs decide whether to resume the season under Project Restart.
Here’s what’s in store over the next week…
Monday May 11
All 20 top-flight clubs will meet again via video conference call to discuss the latest guidance outlined by Johnson. In this meeting it is expected that clubs will discuss an adjustment to player contracts – with some due to expire on June 30. There will be a debrief on player safety and the Covid-19 testing procedure which is expected to occur twice a week. A vote on whether to increase permitted substitutions to five – now allowed by Fifa – will also be held.
Tuesday May 12
Clubs will take the information from today’s meeting and debrief their players on the safety protocols discussed, with PFA representatives and medical advisors present.
Wednesday May 13
Yet to be confirmed, but an additional follow-up meeting is expected to be held between the Premier League, PFA and LMA (League Managers Association) to discuss how players and managers feel about resuming the campaign.
Thursday May 14
The final meeting of the week will see the Premier League joined by the EFL for a meeting with the UK Government and police where the plan to stage matches at neutral venues will be discussed.
Monday May 18
A potential D-Day for Project Restart in terms of the English top-flight. This is where we could see Premier League clubs vote on whether to proceed with the resumption of the season under Project Restart.
Additional reporting by the Press Association
