50 players could snub restart
PREMIER LEAGUE clubs fear up to 50 players could revolt against plans to resume the season.
One club said they expected “two or three” players from every team would have major concerns about returning to training and games.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has already expressed his fears and this increased number could seriously undermine the Premier League’s hope to return to training and to resume games amid serious underlying health worries. Players have voiced concerns about passing on the virus
to family members, one Premier League player saying he would refuse because of worries about his six-week-old baby and loved ones with underlying health conditions.
It comes ahead of players being given a presentation next week on the strict quarantine proposals and return to training.
Brighton chief executive Paul Barber confirmed they have several players who have voiced concerns, including a player whose partner has a “serious medical condition”.
Meanwhile, EFL clubs are bracing themselves for League One and Two to be curtailed – possibly as early as next week.
EFL chairman Rick Parry has insisted they want to play on but there is a growing fear it may not be possible for the bottom two divisions amid concerns about testing, safety and behindclosed-doors games.
It would leave them facing the prospect of having to come up with an acceptable formula of finalising league tables as they are still under pressure to keep relegation and promotion.