Police send warning to Premier League clubs as Just Stop Oil targets 'identified' ahead of opening weekend

Police have warned Premier League clubs over the possibility of Just Stop Oil protests taking place at games across the opening weeks of the season.

The Premier League campaign gets underway on Friday evening, with newly-promoted Burnley playing host to Manchester City at Turf Moor.

Six games will then be played on Saturday, including Chelsea vs Liverpool and Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest, with the other three games to take place across Sunday and Monday.

Clubs have been told about the possibility of Just Stop Oil disrupting matches - although at this stage, the chances of a protest happening have been described as 'unlikely'.

The environmental activist group have interrupted several high-profile events in recent months, including Wimbledon, the World Snooker Championship and the second Test of the Ashes series at Lord's.

Their aim is to demand the British government to stop licensing new oil, gas and coal projects, as well as greater investment in renewable energy and better building insulation.

Now, Premier League clubs have been told about where Just Stop Oil could disrupt fixtures.

Premier League clubs 'sent Just Stop Oil warning by police'

According to the Daily Mail, police chiefs have identified stadium turnstiles as possible areas that Just Stop Oil could target if a protest is to take place.

The report claims that local forces are compiling 'action plans' in preparation for potential protests across the country, and will focus on pitch runners and those that attempt to attach themselves to objects.

In March 2022, a protestor tied themselves to a goalpost using cable ties during Everton's home match against Newcastle.

And during a World Snooker Championship match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry this April, one protester attempted to glue themselves to one of the table's pockets, but was prevented from doing so by referee Olivier Marteel.

During the 2022 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, meanwhile, six protestors ran on to the Wellington Straight following Zhou Guanyu's horrific first-lap crash that brought out the red flag. They were pulled away from the circuit by marshals and stewards.