Football: English Premier League Restart
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw The world’s most popular and lucrative football league is set to restart on 17 June, after being suspended since 13 March, subject to final Government guidelines to be issued. Contact training has resumed and the matches will be played behind closed doors, but broadcast on various platforms, including some matches on BBC TV, the first time since the English Premier League was set up in 1992. In order to complete the remaining 92 matches, it will be wall-to-wall football until the end of the current season, provisionally set for 25 July. This will require six weekends and three mid-week rounds. Assuming that the matches go ahead, it is reported that the rebate of £340 million, due to TV Companies as a result of the interruption to the playing season, may be paid over a period of time. Otherwise, it will have to be paid in full in July. Richard Masters, the League Chief Executive, remarked that the restart date would not be confirmed “until we have met all the safety requirements needed.” The return of the English Premier League will provide a great psychological boost to football fans who are involved in some form of lockdown around the world due to the Coronavirus Pandemic! Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
