English Premiership

Premier League return would lift morale, says UK minister

2020-05-05 20:21

Restarting the Premier League would be a boost to Britain's morale amid the coronavirus crisis, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Tuesday.

Premier League chiefs have targeted a June return to action as they bid to finish the season over the summer.

England's top-flight has been suspended since 13 March and there are still 92 matches remaining, with the title, relegation and Champions League qualification all to be resolved.

Some critics have questioned whether the Premier League is trying to return too soon after the top tier seasons in France and the Netherlands were abandoned.

But Raab sees merit in the Premier League's 'Project Restart'.

"I think it would lift spirits of the nation and people would like to see us get back to work and children can go to school safely but also past times like sport," he said during a government press conference.

"I know the government has had constructive meetings with sports bodies to plan for athletes return to training when its safe."

However, Raab emphasised sport in Britain could only resume once it can be done safely.

"I can tell you that the Culture Secretary has been working on a plan to get sport played behind closed doors when we move to second phase so that is something we are looking at," he said.

"Of course, the key point though, we can only do it when the medical advice and scientific advice is that it can be done safely and sustainably but certainly that is something under active consideration."

 

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Saturday, 09 May 2020
Liverpool v Chelsea, Anfield 02:00
Sheffield United v Everton, Bramall Lane 02:00
Norwich City v Burnley, Carrow Road 02:00
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace, Molineux Stadium 02:00
Manchester United v West Ham United, Old Trafford 02:00
Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United, The American Express Community Stadium 02:00
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 02:00
Watford v Manchester City, Vicarage Road 02:00
Aston Villa v Arsenal, Villa Park 02:00
AFC Bournemouth v Southampton, Vitality Stadium 02:00
Sunday, 17 May 2020
Arsenal v Watford, Emirates Stadium 02:00
Manchester City v Norwich City, Etihad Stadium 02:00
Everton v AFC Bournemouth, Goodison Park 02:00
Leicester City v Manchester United, King Power Stadium 02:00
West Ham United v Aston Villa, London Stadium 02:00
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur, Selhurst Park 02:00
Newcastle United v Liverpool, St. James' Park 02:00
Southampton v Sheffield United, St. Mary's Stadium 02:00
Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stamford Bridge 02:00
Burnley v Brighton & Hove Albion, Turf Moor 02:00
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