The Premier League are targeting a mid-June restart — June 19 the newest date, after a week’s push — and now we have explicit government approval for that as well (following the unveiling of the stepped plan over the weekend, which contained general provisions about sports).
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden held a meeting with the league yesterday, in which he officially opened the doors for Project Restart, while stressing that games can only resume with the appropriate plans and buy-offs — not to mention the proper progress in terms of pandemic conditions — in place beforehand.
“Today’s positive meeting I hosted with the football authorities progressed plans for the resumption of the professional game in England. We all agreed that we will only go ahead if it is safe to do so and the health and welfare of players, coaches and staff comes first.
“The government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June.
“This should include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game’s resumption supports the wider football family.
“It is now up to the football authorities to agree and finalise the detail of their plans, and there is combined goodwill to achieve this for their fans, the football community and the nation as a whole.”
-Olivier Dowden; source: ITV
It is expected — and the government are certainly pushing for it — that the league will make more, and maybe even all games available for broadcast in the UK as well, which would truly be unprecedented indeed.
