Harry Diamond
Premier League clubs are set for their ‘most thorough discussion to date’ about the curtailment of the season, as well as discussing neutral venues, substitutions and more at today’s Project Restart meeting.
The latest meeting between shareholders is scheduled for today, ahead of the league’s restart later this month with the first fixtures set to get underway on June 17.
Before that, however, there remains much to discuss including the controversial proposals to play some fixtures at neutral venues. Police authorities have recommended playing ‘high-risk’ fixtures – including the Merseyside derby and Manchester City v Liverpool – at neutral grounds amid fears that fans could congregate outside of stadiums.
Premier League clubs are determined to play as many fixtures as possible at home stadiums, and there are hopes that discussions today can ‘mitigate’ police concerns over the safety of fixtures deemed high-risk.
Also on today’s agenda are proposals to increase the number of substitutes available to each manager. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) have already announced a temporary changing to the rules, allowing clubs to make five substitutes throughout the course of 90 minutes.
However, Chelsea have suggested that nine substitutes could be named in reserve, a proposal which is expected to receive the support and backing of the division’s clubs amid fears of increased injury risk upon football’s resumption.
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Almost 300 Porto fans travelled to their game against Famalicao on Wednesday and congregated outside the stadium as the league season resumed pic.twitter.com/hCWgje31z7
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 4, 2020
The potential curtailment of the season – and how the standings would be finalised – is also set to be discussed at today’s meeting, with the BBC reporting the talks are set to be ‘most thorough discussion to date’.
10 clubs are said to be in favour of scrapping relegation, though the Football Association have already refused such an idea, while the EFL have said they will pursue legal action if there is no promotion and relegation between the Premier League and Championship.
The Premier League is recommending that league placings are determined by a simple points-per-game average if the season cannot be completed, a method unsurprisingly opposed by a number of struggling sides currently in danger of the drop.
The Premier League’s return is scheduled to begin with Manchester City against Arsenal and Aston Villa’s clash with Sheffield United on Wednesday June 17, before a full round of fixtures the following weekend.
Mass testing is all continuing throughout all clubs ahead of the league’s restart, the latest testing receiving just one positive case, from Tottenham, from 1,197 players and staff members tested.
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