Verheijen tells top players to revolt

TOP football fitness coach Raymond Verheijen has called on the Premier League’s top stars to join a worldwide player revolt if clubs gamble on the coronavirus crisis.

Verheijen (right), the Dutchman who has worked with Manchester City and Barcelona as well as the national teams of Holland, South Korea, Russia and

Wales, believes the season should be cancelled NOW.

But he fears all the game’s governing bodies are ready to take a chance on the health and fitness of players in a bid to avoid paying millions in rebates to TV companies if the campaign is abandoned.

Verheijen said: “The season must be cancelled to protect the players. Most players don’t have the influence to say ‘I am not playing until I know it’s safe.’

“It would be a powerful message if the stars of the Premier League joined names like Messi and Ronaldo to say ‘none of us will play until it is safe’.”