Harry Diamond
Glenn Murray says a return to football ‘could potentially be putting people at risk’ and has questioned how the Premier League can safely return amid the coronavirus crisis.
Football remains suspended indefinitely as the world combats the spread of the deadly virus, with several leading leagues – including the Eredivisie and Ligue 1 – having cancelled the remainder of the current season.
English football currently remains in negotiations over a safe return to action behind-closed-doors, and the Premier League has been given until May 25 to inform UEFA whether they wish to cancel or continue the campaign.
Any potential return remains fraught with potential health concerns, with The Athletic reporting that some players are ‘scared and angry’ at plans to bring football back ‘as soon as possible’, feeling economical benefits are being prioritised over health and welfare.
Brighton forward Murray has now voiced his concerns regarding a return to Premier League action, questioning how it is possible to maintain social distancing and safety measures amid a resumption of elite level sport.
“The list is quite long. It’s not just a squad of 25 going to play another squad of 25 and that’s all that will be involved,” Murray told the Daily Mail.
“It’s going to be a hell of a lot of people, which I think could potentially be putting people at risk.
“I have heard reports about social distancing until the New Year and I cannot quite get my head around how we social distance while training among ourselves and then on a Saturday.
“How do you social distance on a corner kick and things like that?
“It’s going to be very difficult but the decision is above my pay grade so I’ll wait for it to be made by the bigwigs.”
Murray’s concerns come after former England defender Gary Neville’s comments regarding the motivation to conclude the current season, believing financial factors were behind the drive to resume the Premier League campaign.
Neville believes ‘economical factors’ are the sole factor driving a return of football in the near future, and has warned of ‘clouded judgements’ given the ‘huge investments’ involved in the current season.
Read also – UEFA’s Champions League plans threaten the Premier League model and must be resisted