Murray can’t mask disdain for proposals
LIVERPOOL could be denied the opportunity to seal the Premier League title at Anfield if public health concerns are factored into where the final matches of the 2019-20 season are played.
Top-flight clubs will hold further talks on how the season can be restarted amid the coronavirus pandemic at their next shareholders’ meeting today.
Part of the ‘Project Restart’ discussions will centre around the use of approved venues, which may mean teams playing on neutral grounds and immediately throws up questions over competition integrity.
Brighton chief executive Paul Barber says being unable to play all games home and away as planned would be a “further imperfection” on top of the already-accepted imperfection playing behind closed doors.
The UK’S national football policing lead, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, insists playing all the remaining matches at their original venues would “present challenges” to the emergency services already stretched by the Covid-19 outbreak.
There would be particular pressure of
BRIGHTON striker Glenn Murray has branded some of the protocols imposed ahead of the Premier League’s possible return as “farcical”.
‘Project Restart’ has been launched by the league with a view to being back in action in mid-june.
But players, who are this week beginning to return to training grounds for individual sessions, have been told they will have to wear face masks to train and there have also been reports that contact could be banned at corners and set-pieces once the action gets under way.
“To be hindering ourselves... face masks is going to be off-putting.
“It is not going to be natural, people will be ripping them off in games.
“It is quite farcical,’’ said Murray.
“I understand why people are desperate to get football on. It has to be done in a sensible way and in the right time and in a way that is going to keep everyone safe.”
While Murray is desperate to get back playing, he has sounded a stark warning that he would have concerns about doing it too soon.
“It is us that are going to be going out there and competing against other teams.
“We are talking about guys from all over the world who could be possibly carrying the disease. There are so many caveats.’’
You expect to play an equal number of games home and away. What we don’t want is having to play at a neutral venue.