Premier League ‘must step up to the plate’
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden is hopeful the Premier League will strike a deal with the EFL this week to help their clubs through the coronavirus crisis.
The EFL says its 72 clubs stand to lose £200million this season without crowds, having already lost £50m last season.
There are fears that without crowds some EFL clubs will disappear.
Dowden said yesterday: ‘The Premier League are working closely with the EFL to see how they can support them. They are having productive conversations and I am hopeful they will reach a deal this week. I have been speaking with the Premier League and I was very clear that we expect the Premier League to support the EFL.’
Dowden said the Government stands ready to support EFL clubs ‘because they are such an important part of our local community’.
He said: ‘We’re all agreed the Premier League needs to step up to the plate and they’re having intensive discussions with the EFL over how they can support those clubs.’
Governing bodies across a range of sports have spoken out since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced last Tuesday that the planned reintroduction of spectators to sports venues from October 1 had been scrapped due to fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections.
Dale Vince, owner of League Two club Forest Green, criticised the Government’s decision to delay the return of spectators and said football was being treated differently to other parts of society.
‘Look at walking down the high street, walking into a shop or pub or schools,’ Vince said. ‘Look at how those environments are controlled and then look at how football is controlled.
‘We ran a pilot game last Saturday. You have a temperature check at the gate, masks are obligatory, you are oudoors and well spaced. It’s actually the safest environment to be in right now.’
While the Premier League could support the EFL, the government are expected to help financially support England’s top non-league clubs such as Hawks.