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Gary Neville has criticized the Premier League and its clubs for failing to make the case for a return to action.<\/p>\nGary Neville has criticized the Premier League and its clubs for failing to make the case for a return to action.<\/p>\n
The former Manchester United and England defender accused them of being \u201cfrightened to death\u201d to publicly back plans to restart the season for fear of being held liable should something go wrong.<\/p>\n
Premier League clubs met on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to resuming the campaign and are understood to have earmarked June 8 as a best-case scenario to return following the coronavirus suspension.<\/p>\n
But Neville feels there has been too much anonymous briefing and not enough public declarations.<\/p>\n
Neville wrote on Twitter: \u201cThe PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly \u201cWe have to Re-Start\u201d. I\u2019d respect them more if they said \u201cWe accept the increase in Health Risk but it\u2019s one we are willing to take\u201d. They won\u2019t as they are frightened to death!\u201d<\/p>\n
When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: \u201cThat\u2019s why we haven\u2019t heard one single prominent CEO \/ Chairman \/ Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief \/ Brief \/ Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before making an exception for Brighton as the \u201conly club willing to take a stand\u201d, Neville added: \u201cIt would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Premier League announced on Friday that clubs had again confirmed their commitment to finishing the season.<\/p>\n
A statement added: \u201cThe League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe League welcomed the creation of the Government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo decisions were taken at today\u2019s shareholders\u2019 meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding \u2018Project Restart\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club\u2019s official website on Saturday.<\/p>\n
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady revealed more details about the plans in a newspaper column on Saturday and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish made the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column.<\/p>\n
Parish claimed the return of football, if considered appropriate, would be a boost to the taxpayer, lift the nation\u2019s mental health and could help provide a blueprint for other industries to define a \u201cnew normal\u201d amid the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman but reiterated his general point.<\/p>\n
The TV pundit wrote: \u201cSteve I want football to return. I also understand the complexities. However it\u2019s depressing that the PL and clubs seem to be in hiding, scared to death of communicating. No-one wants to be responsible for this one! Just in case the unthinkable happens.\u201d<\/p>\n