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Football London
Football London
Sport
Connor O'Neill

West Ham chief Karren Brady names three major problems with Premier League returning in June

West Ham chief executive Karren Brady believes a return to football is no clearer now than when it was first postponed in March.

The Premier League once against confirmed that their aim is to finish the current season when it is deemed safe to do so on Friday afternoon.

But with social distancing measures now in place for another three weeks, and health experts warning it could be months before they manage to get the virus under control, it could be some time before football returns.

And Brady feels there are also complex questions over training, testing of players, hygiene and medical protocols which need to be resolved before any plans can be put in place.

Coronavirus: How has sport been affected?

"Players will have been able to retain some physical fitness at home,” she wrote in The Sun. "But if social-distancing rules are still in place, physical match-play training will not be allowed - you can't tackle from two metres away.

"So, how match-fit will players be if the season commences, as we all hope it will, by mid-June?"

Before adding: "Police officers will need to be at games even if they are behind closed doors as some supporters will travel to the stadium, even if they cannot come in to watch. But the police will want to ensure attending matches does not drain resources away from other matters.

"Everyone at the stadium - and even behind closed doors this is about 300-500 people - including security, staff, medical officers, players, referees and media, will have to have temperature checks, fill out health questionnaires and observe social distancing.

"Then there is the issue of injuries. All this is manageable but what if a player gets injured, where do we send him?

"It can't be to an NHS hospital that is already under pressure and private hospitals are carrying out NHS procedures and not taking in injured footballers. So then what?"

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