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Plans to resume football progressed today with the British Government \u201copening the door\u201d for a June resumption, according to the UK’s Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden.<\/p>\nPlans to resume football progressed today with the British Government \u201copening the door\u201d for a June resumption, according to the UK’s Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden.<\/p>\n
Dowden chaired a meeting with chief executives from the Premier League, EFL and Football Association to discuss plans to restart the season next month.<\/p>\n
And he said: \u201cToday\u2019s positive meeting I hosted with the football authorities progressed plans for the resumption of the professional game in England.<\/p>\n
The government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all agreed that we will only go ahead if it is safe to do so and the health and welfare of players, coaches and staff comes first.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis should include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game\u2019s resumption supports the wider football family.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is now up to the football authorities to agree and finalize the detail of their plans, and there is combined goodwill to achieve this for their fans, the football community and the nation as a whole.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government and our medical experts will continue to offer guidance and support to the game ahead of any final decision which would put these plans into action.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deputy chief medical officer for England Professor Jonathan Van-Tam has warned the success of socially-distanced training will determine how soon competitive matches can return.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe will have to see how that goes before it is time to move on or even think about moving on to the return of competitive football matches.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe overall approach with easing social distancing has been one that has been tentative, measured, slow and stepwise, and that is exactly the plan that is under way for all of elite sport \u2013 not just football.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be small, carefully measured, stepwise approaches to seeing what can be achieved safely.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first of those is, really, to return to safe training, still observing social distancing and measures are taking place, plans are taking place in quite some depth to be ready to do that, and that will be a stepwise thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Brighton boss Graham Potter has some reservations about a possible return to training next week.<\/p>\n
If all goes well then Potter and chief executive Paul Barber revealed some players could return for the first phase of training the following day, which would see players tested before working out individually or in small groups as part of Government guidelines.<\/p>\n
But Potter said: \u201cThere are concerns, of course, because we\u2019ve come out of lockdown, the situation isn\u2019t totally resolved.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got a young family, my wife\u2019s family have health issues so there are concerns there but there are concerns all over the country as well at the moment, which I recognize.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we\u2019re human beings like everybody else, we need that clarity if we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s announcement paves the way for the league to resume by the middle of next month but Potter hopes for more guidance.<\/p>\n
Speaking via conference call, he added: \u201cIt\u2019s nice to have a plan because you can work towards something and you can prepare and you can do your job as best you can.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the same time we know that we\u2019re in a public health crisis and it\u2019s a new situation for everybody so there\u2019s no road map we can follow. From a players and coaches perspective it would be nice to see a pathway going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t played for three months. Then also the what if scenarios: What if players get positive results for the virus, what happens there, how does that affect the competition? There\u2019s lots of little bits of detail.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to try to get back playing, the general consensus in our group is we want to play football, finish the season but just to get that detail would be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brighton striker Glenn Murray believes the timescale being discussed about a return to action is too soon given the current predicament facing the country.<\/p>\n
He told Sky Sports on Thursday morning: \u201cI just can\u2019t understand after just sort of loosening the lockdown why we\u2019re in such a rush to get it back. Why can\u2019t we just wait sort of a month or so to see if things go to plan?\u201d<\/p>\n