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Karren Brady says key questions remain over Premier League return

West Ham's Karren Brady feels the Premier League is currently no closer to returning than when th...



Karren Brady says key question...
Soccer

Karren Brady says key questions remain over Premier League return

West Ham's Karren Brady feels the Premier League is currently no closer to returning than when the lockdown started.

The 20 English top-flight clubs discussed options for resuming the campaign yesterday - with reports of a plan to begin games behind closed doors in the middle of June.

But Brady feels there are still questions over training, the testing of players and medical protocols which need to be resolved before a return date can be agreed.

"Players will have been able to retain some physical fitness at home," the Hammers vice-chair wrote in her column in The Sun today.

"But if social-distancing rules are still in place, physical match-play training will not be allowed - you can't tackle from two metres away.

"So, how match-fit will players be if the season commences, as we all hope it will, by mid-June?

"Police officers will need to be at games even if they are behind closed doors as some supporters will travel to the stadium, even if they cannot come in to watch. But the police will want to ensure attending matches does not drain resources away from other matters.

"Everyone at the stadium - and even behind closed doors this is about 300-500 people - including security, staff, medical officers, players, referees and media, will have to have temperature checks, fill out health questionnaires and observe social distancing.

"Then there is the issue of injuries. All this is manageable but what if a player gets injured, where do we send him?

"It can't be to an NHS hospital that is already under pressure and private hospitals are carrying out NHS procedures and not taking in injured footballers. So then what?"

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