Plans for a Premier League return have hit another snag as the London Mayor Sadiq Khan does not want to see matches taking place in the capital too soon.
Following the UK government's announcement on Monday that sport behind closed doors could happen from 1 June, the English top-flight is working towards a plan to restart the current season no later than 12 June.
As London has been one of the worst hit cities by the coronavirus pandemic, Khan has expressed concerns regarding games taking place in the English capital too soon.
"Sadiq is extremely keen for the Premier League and professional sport in general to resume," a spokesperson for the Mayor’s office told the Evening Standard newspaper in London.
"However, with the country still in the grips of this crisis, and hundreds of people dying every day, he believes that it is too early to be discussing the resumption of the Premier League and top-flight sport in the capital.
"As a Liverpool fan, Sadiq of course wants the Premier League to return, but it can only happen when it is safe to do so, and it cannot place any extra burden on the NHS and emergency services."
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Image: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/PA Images22 of the remaining 92 Premier League fixtures to be played this season are due to take place in London with a further five to be played at Watford's Vicarage Road on the outskirts of the capital.
The possibility of playing matches at neutral venues had been mooted but Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham were among as many as 12 clubs to object to that proposal.
Some Premier League players have also voiced concerns about coming back to play too soon, a point echoed by Khan.
"Sadiq is also concerned about the welfare of players competing in all professional sports, not just football," added the spokesman.
"There are huge questions to be asked how players could train safely, how they would travel to matches and how they could play competitive matches without the risk of spreading infection."
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