Premier League: Pundit debates when season should restart
Premier League clubs have been in discussions for several weeks over ways of finishing the season. Like many leagues across the world, the top-flight was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Premier League restart: Where will fixtures be played? (Image: GETTY)
The initial proposal of playing matches at eight to 10 neutral venues was met with resistance from a number of clubs.
BBC Sport reports the opposing clubs to be the Premier League's bottom six, who feel the plan would affect the "sporting integrity" of the competition.
"It's clear to see that some clubs feel more strongly about that than others," said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.
"It's an ongoing dialogue. No-one is saying we won't play unless certain conditions are met."
The Premier League hopes to restart next month (Image: GETTY)
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There is also the issue of sponsors such as Emirates and Etihad Airlines, Amex, Vitality and King Power paying out huge sums for clubs to play in stadiums named after them.
The Premier League held further talks with the authorities during the week, including the police, over a "sensible restart" to the campaign.
"We will be jointly exploring a range of options to identify a way forward," said Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chief's Council Football Policing Lead.
But Roberts stressed the most practical option has to minimise "any risks to public safety and unnecessary pressure on public services… to support the economic and morale benefits associated with the sport".
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Premier League restart: Clubs were against the use of neutral venues (Image: GETTY)
While the Premier League continues to plan for a return, some players have expressed concerns.
Brighton striker Glenn Murray said: "Football isn't necessarily a necessity, it's a game, it's a sport.
"I mean, what if we go through all this rigmarole of trying to get back started and we have a second peak and we're stopped anyways?
"I just can't understand after just sort of loosening the lockdown why we're in such a rush to get it back.
"Why can't we just wait sort of a month or so to see if things go to plan?"