Restart will mean a feast of TV games

FANS of the Championship and Premier League will be able to watch almost all of the remaining 200 matches in the top-two tiers of English football under plans for the sport to return.

Reports suggest scheduling officials and broadcast partners are aiming to give as many fixtures as possible their own slot on TV.

The proposal is among many being considered under Project Restart plans but, like the return of football, depends on receiving government approval – with Prime Minister Boris Johnson set to update the nation on the coronavirus situation on Sunday.

Following that, the Premier League will hold a shareholders meeting on Monday where key decisions could be made for the planned return of football in June – and agreeing to play in neutral venues will be crucial.

It could also be difficult to convince players and members of staff that it is safe to return amid ongoing concerns about the coronavirus crisis.

If the plans to return go ahead and the 2019/20 season is completed, the widely-reported ‘festival of football’ could be even more dramatic than many expected – with staggered kick-off times and daily matches.

Between three and four Championship and Premier League matches will be televised daily at staggered kick-off times, resulting in almost all of the nearly 200 remaining fixtures being shown on live TV. It is not expected that any Premier League games will be shown on free-to-air TV.