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Premier League Set For June Return After Advanced Talks With UK Government

Premier League Set For June Return After Advanced Talks With UK Government

A plan to finish the 2019/20 season behind closed doors from June onwards has been given a tentative green light.

Alex Reid

Alex Reid

The 2019/20 Premier League season is set to resume in June with matches played behind closed doors, following extensive talks between the league and the government.

With the coronavirus pandemic expected to peak in the UK in the coming weeks, the hope is that it will be subsiding enough by June that top-flight games can be played under strictly controlled conditions.

As reported by The Mirror, all 20 Premier League clubs have been involved in a plan put together with senior officials in an emergency meeting last Friday.

Manchester United played a behind closed doors game against LASK in March (PA Images)
Manchester United played a behind closed doors game against LASK in March (PA Images)

How the matches would be played and broadcast was also discussed, with extensive measures to keep players in a "sterile environment" and limit contact with the wider public as much as possible.

No fans will be permitted at grounds but - as has previously been discussed - an increased number of games, including Saturday 3pm kick-offs, could be broadcast live.

While Sky and BT have rights to many of the remaining fixtures, that doesn't cover all games. So live top-flight matches could return to terrestrial TV as part of the plan to broadcast a far wider number of games.

The resumption is based on how health experts view the current coronavirus situation and - while the talks were reportedly extensive - there are many details still to be decided in the coming weeks.

Jurgen Klopp's side would welcome a chance to finish the 2019/20 season (PA Images)
Jurgen Klopp's side would welcome a chance to finish the 2019/20 season (PA Images)

Nonetheless clubs are expected to tell players to ramp up their training from May onwards with the real prospect that each club's remaining nine (or 10) Premier League games could be completed over the summer.

FA Cup matches could also be played, subject to the same conditions, however the situation of the Champions League - which involves clubs travelling across Europe - is naturally more complex. UEFA are in separate talks over a potential August return for European competitions, although nothing concrete has been decided.

Still, a return to Premier League football would be welcomed by Liverpool fans keen see the club secure a first top-flight title in 30 years and - let's face it - by all of us eager to see some live football once more.

There really is only so much Netflix and jigsaws any one isolating human can take.

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Topics: Football News, Football, Premier League