Premier League clubs could have stirred a potential hornets’ nest in pushing hard and fast for a restart on June 12 as there are now rumblings they could be facing a revolt from players who are concerned their health could be compromised if the season restarts as hoped by the League, according to The Mirror.
League teams have beenhuddled together in talks for weeks to decide when and how the campaign would be resumed after the season was postponed with the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic.
A collective proposal titled Project Restart has outlined a plan for teams to resume fixtures on June 12 at a select number of neutral venues with the primary aim being for clubs to complete their remaining games prior to the start of the 2020-21 season, with the FA Cup final pencilled in for August 8.
It is hoped that resuming the season will mean limiting financial losses of millions of pounds in TV broadcast revenue caused by the pandemic, hence the understandable rush to complete the season to avert the financial disaster.
But even now a host of clubs have been quick to respond in registering their concerns over the safety of returning to action so quickly and players are now already in the midst of consulting experts over worries of contracting the virus during games and then pass it on to their families.
The report claims a host of foreign players have already contacted their individual governments for guidance on the matter. One source close to a player said: “There is so much contradictory information at the moment that no-one knows what to believe.
“Some players have gone back home for guidance, to their own governments. More have told their agents that they are worried about playing too soon.”
In Germany, news confirmed that three players from FC Cologne tested positive for coronavirus last week after returning to training, adding further justifiable cause for alarm among Premier League players who are worried the exact same thing could happen in England and Dutch agent Rob Jansen warns that a battle between players and clubs could ensue in the process.
“I tell you what is going to be the most interesting question: can clubs force their players to play football under these circumstances?
“I can understand everyone trying to create plans and ideas for finishing the season.
“But you can try and put entire squads and staff from football clubs in isolation in hotels?
“It only needs one infected person, even a waiter or a hotel staff member, and the entire competition can be destroyed again.”