Second phase? English Premier League clubs to vote on Project Restart’s next step

Premier League - Manchester United v Watford - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - February 23, 2020 General view of a match ball held by Manchester United's David de Gea during the warm-up before the match [Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith]

Premier League clubs will vote on Wednesday, May 27 on whether to proceed to the next stage of ‘Project Restart’.

Clubs were allowed to train in groups with minimal close contact, with the league aiming to push on to a return to full action.

Should Wednesday’s vote go through, Phase Two of Project Restart would allow players to work in groups of up to 10, a move that would see a bit of football normalcy return, as the world battles to defeat the novel coronavirus.

On Thursday, May 14, Premier League clubs received 40-page-document outlining official training protocols, with a condensed eight-page document from the PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association).

Social-distancing distancing had been heavily-emphasised on, with disinfection of playing surfaces including corner-flags, cones, goalposts and balls recommended after every training session.

AFP and the BBC report players would be subjected to two weekly testings twice, temperature checks as well as filling questionnaires.

Players were instructed to travel alone to the training ground, avoid public transport and clean their vehicle interiors appropriately.

Inside the pitch, tackling had been banned, with players restricted to groups of five during the first phase of team training.

Players who tested positive for covid-19 would have to self-isolate for seven days.

When treating players, medical staff were instructed to wear protective equipment, with special assessments including tests for lung and heart complications for players who test positive under consideration.

"We've got to try it, see if we can do it and see if we can return to some form of activity. But it's also being as careful and having as many assurances as possible that it's achievable," PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor told Mirror.

Last week, six Premier League players tested positive for COVID-19, with two more positive cases confirmed after the second round of tests.

 

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