Premier League clubs have unanimously agreed protocols for matches to resume behind closed doors next week.
In one key ruling, players and managers will not be required to wear masks but strict social distancing measures will be required wherever possible on matchdays.
Confidence in Project Restart has been boosted by just 14 positive tests from six rounds of testing, while a Premier League study of 288 matches this season found 98 percent of players come together for less than 5 minutes – well below the Government's 15-minute threshold for close contact.
Clubs also agreed to replace player names with 'Black Lives Matter' for the first round of fixtures, one of a catalogue of alterations to the familiar round of fixtures.
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Inside stadiums
Each stadium will be limited to roughly 300 people and divided into three zones, with clubs managing the Green Zone immediately outside the grounds and the League strictly controlling the Amber and Red Zones.
The Amber Zone, where supporters and the media would typically be allowed, requires anyone entering to have completed a questionnaire and temperature check.
The Red Zone — comprising the dressing rooms, tunnel area and pitch — is strictly limited to 110 people, including players, coaching and medical staff and VAR operators.
Anyone entering the Red Zone needs a ‘clinical passport’ — an app with a scannable barcode to prove they have returned a negative Covid-19 test in the previous five days.
At older grounds, including Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park and Watford’s Vicarage Road, modifications to enclosed areas, including the dressing rooms, are under way to ensure social distancing can be maintained.
Travel
The Premier League have advised clubs to fly to games and avoid hotels, while clubs plan to charter bigger aircraft to comply with social distancing.
The League accept clubs will occasionally use hotels — and compliance officers have been doing risk assessments on venues. Unlike in Germany, players will not be quarantined at hotels.
Clubs are working with companies to produce coaches with alterations to ensure players do not face each other. Drivers have been included in the League’s testing programme and clubs are expected to use at least two coaches to comply with social distancing.
Pre-match
Players will enter grounds using their 'clinical passports' and head to the dressing rooms, some of which will be repurposed hospitality suites or other rooms.
Players will enter grounds using their ‘clinical passports’ and head to the dressing rooms, some of which will be repurposed hospitality suites or other rooms.
Players will be required to use hand sanitiser as they come on and off the pitch and they will walk out in a staggered formation, using separate tunnels where possible.
In grounds with just one tunnel, the away team will enter the pitch first.
Handshakes have been banned but the ‘handshake boards’ and the Premier League anthem remain, along with the captain’s coin toss in the centre circle.
During matches
The Premier League have advised players to maintain social distancing while celebrating and not to spit or clear their noses, but say they will not be booked if they do so. Players have also been reminded not to harangue the officials, who will be tested for a second time next week.
There will be a one-minute drinks break per half in acknowledgement of the summer conditions and, in the absence of ball boys and fans, spare disinfected balls will be placed on cones around the pitch.
Doctors and physios will wear PPE to treat players and the fourth official will also be masked while manning an expanded technical area.
Backroom staff have been told to remain in their seats, while only three of the nine available subs from each team may warm up at once.
Post-match
Players will shower at a stadium if social distancing can be maintained, before undertaking their media duties around the perimeter of the pitch and boarding the coach.
Any players who break the guidelines during the match, as has happened in Germany, will be firmly reminded of their responsibilities by the Premier League.
