Police tell the Premier League that they CAN host games at clubs’ home grounds when games resume… but want key high-profile fixtures moved to neutral venues over fears of fans gathering outside
- Project Restart has been handed a further boost by police inovlved in matchdays
- They say that for the most part, they are happy to police home matches
- But they have suggested high-profile encounters are moved to neutral venues
The Police have informed the Premier League that they have no issues with the majority of matches being played at their original venues.
However, they have raised concerns over the hosting of a small number of high-profile fixtures, amid concerns of supporters gathering outside, and expressed a desire to see them played at neutral sites.
That information is expected to be fed back to clubs at Thursday’s top flight meeting, which is ongoing.
Some key Premier League matches may have to be played neutrally in Project Restart
But police are happy to staff Premier League matches as long as their costs are covered
Police feel that as long as their costs are covered and clubs provide stewarding to ensure they can deal with potential issues, most matches can be played at their existing stadiums.
But there are fears that key matches – at both ends of the table – may well cause issues should they remain at the original sites.
The final decision is down to the government, in conjunction with the Premier League. However, they are likely to strongly lean on the advice of the police and local safety advisory groups, made up of clubs, emergency services and local authorities.
The move opens the door for the hybrid model – a mix of home and away and neutral venues – revealed by Sportsmail earlier this week.
Key matches at both ends of the table could potentially be played at a neutral venue
Liverpool criticised city mayor Joe Anderson when he expressed fears of fans going to venues
Earlier in May, Liverpool criticsed the mayor of the city Joe Anderson after he claimed fans would head to Anfield – or even Goodison Park, where Liverpool’s first match back will be played against Everton – to celebrate a potential title win.
Anderson said: ‘Even if it was behind closed doors, there’d be many thousands of people who would turn up outside Anfield.
‘There’s not many people who would respect what we were saying and stay away from the ground, a lot of people would come to celebrate so I think it’s (playing home games) a non-starter.’
Liverpool responded with a firm statement, saying: ‘As a club, we are aware of and disappointed by comments attributed to Mayor Joe Anderson in a media interview which was published today.
There are fears fans would congregate outside stadiums for crunch league matches
Liverpool have a game against the current Premier League holders Manchester City still to play
‘As well as a lack of evidence to support such claims, we would also point to recent discussions with Mayor Anderson relating to the possibility of any behind-closed-doors football, which concluded that it is important that key stakeholders across the city continue to engage and work collaboratively.’
Greater Manchester Police chief Ian Hopkins expressed a similar concern to Sportsmail over Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City.
He said: ‘What we are fearful of is that people will turn up either at neutral grounds or at home grounds and that could be particularly problematic.
‘There are some quite tricky fixtures potentially. Liverpool coming to Man City I have no doubt would attract crowds whether they are allowed in the ground or not.
‘It needs very, very careful thinking through.’