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Team Celebrations Could Be Banned For 'As Long As 12 Months'

Team Celebrations Could Be Banned For 'As Long As 12 Months'

The Premier League could be very different for up to a year when it returns, with shirt swapping and shared water bottles also banned.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

The Premier League could have a very different feel to it for up to a year when it returns, with reports that team celebrations could be banned for a sometime.

'Project Restart' and the possibility of top tier football coming back has been discussed for over a week and, with speculation the government is set to 'ease' lockdown restrictions on Sunday evening, those plans could soon be accelerated.

Should football return it will be very different as they'll be no fans in the grounds, and no one knows how long that will last, but they'll be some other changes too.

According to the Telegraph as well as celebrating together, players will also not be allowed to swap shirts after games, share water bottles, as is the usual practice to save time, or even spit on the pitch, and it could last for 'as long as 12 months.'

Yellow cards all round? Image: PA Images
Yellow cards all round? Image: PA Images

It's unknown what the punishment will be for breaking any of the sanctions but the practices are the kind of thing that would be most likely to be the spread of the Coronavirus between players.

Spitting will be a major issue especially and will even be banned from the training ground, something clubs will have to police themselves but on the pitch it is likely to lead to a yellow card or potentially more.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to address new lockdown restrictions on Thursday, 7th May, with it being the end of the three week period that lockdown was extended by, however that was pushed back.

Speaking in the House of Commons this week Johnson explained why Sunday was now the date for the announcement, saying, "I just want to explain to the House as a courtesy for why it's happening on Sunday because I'm sure you would be interested in that.

"The reason in that is very simple. We have to be sure that the data is going to support our ability to do this and that data is coming continuously over the next few days."

The new restrictions would then be in place from Monday, which could potentially allow football to ramp up its return to action.

Whatever is announced on Sunday is likely to trigger a meeting between the 20 Premier League clubs with club captains, the PFA and League Managers Association all expected to join to reach an agreement on everything to do with the return.

Relegation threatened clubs have reportedly been against relegation remaining an option if neutral grounds are used because of the integrity of the competition.

There are 92 games left to play in the Premier League and there has been numerous different options suggested for how the league could change, including more substitutes and even shorter halves.

All games will also likely be televised with some reports suggesting more kick off times to allow fans to watch more games.

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Topics: Football News, Project Restart, Premier League