The English premier League has just been given an adrenaline shot in the arm in their bid to resume the campaign after the Government approved their framework for a return.
A plan of action had been mucked around by top flight officials that would right the balance and see games get back underway again behind closed doors, targeting a possible return date of June 13, hopefully circumventing any legal complications posed by an abrupt end to the season.
According to the Mirror, broadcasters and sponsors have also been exerting pressure on Clubs to play again at the soonest possible, and now the league, seeing their initial plans given the green light by the Government, are are now being encouraged to move to the next step of preparing concrete proposals.
Key to the overriding framework is the inclusion of the vital testing of players against the coronavirus, whose debilitating impact has crippled sport around the globe and has ground the Premier League to a halt since the beginning of March.
Players have since been forced to train at home during lockdown, with clubs having to monitor their progression remotely, although a number of clubs are beginning to head back to the training field ahead of the season’s possible return.
Key Government figures and the Premier League have been in talks for some weeks amid news continuing to circulate about the return of football, with culture secretary Oliver Dowden admitting he was keen to get matches up and running as soon as possible.
The Mirror reports t hat the office of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has provided ‘real encouragement’ that the planned timeframe of June could be possible.
The framework reportedly approved by the Government is said to include a comprehensive testing programme that will be fully funded by the league, with cooperation from police and medical services to provide assistance at stadiums. Full contact squad training resumes end May and games are said to resume in the second week of June.
However, Premier League officials have been given the amber light warming that their go-ahead to resume the calendar will only stand as long as coronavirus cases continue to drop and the fatality rate begins to improve.