BREAKING NEWS: Premier League clears its final restart hurdle as clubs agree on matchday protocols on player health and safety with 300 people allowed inside stadiums
- The vote at today’s shareholders meeting produced a unanimous agreement
- Only 300 people will be allowed inside stadiums on a given matchday
- 37 ‘Red Zone’ passes will be made available per team for players and staff
- ‘Amber Zone’ and ‘Green Zone’ areas will also be in operation for other staff
The Premier League has cleared its final restart hurdle ahead of Project Restart on June 17, with all 20 clubs agreeing on protocols for matchday on player health and safety.
The vote at today’s shareholders meeting produced a unanimous result, with measures such as 300 people – made up of players, staff, medics, media, doping official and scouts – allowed inside stadiums agreed on.
Only 37 ‘Red Zone’ passes will be made available per team, with that expected to be made up of 20 players, 12 coaching and medical staff and a further five essential staff, with an ‘Amber Zone’ and ‘Green Zone’ also in operation.
The Premier League has cleared its final restart hurdle ahead of Project Restart on June 17
Only 300 people are set to be allowed inside the stadium, with just 37 from each team
As well as people present from each club, there would be a referee, two assistant refs, a fourth official and another in the stand.
Plans are in place for VAR staff to be based across separate rooms at their Stockley Park headquarters.
Pre and post-match press conferences are to be held via a videoconferencing platform. The plans would also see a substantial reduction in the levels of media present.
The host broadcaster will be allowed 98 staff inside the stadium and 75 off-site. While that seems a big group, it is well down on normal numbers, which are usually into three figures.
Host broadcasters like Sky Sports will be allowed 98 staff inside the stadium and 75 off-site
A maximum of 25 written press would be permitted to attend, along with 15 radio broadcasters – although as many as four of those would be from each club’s media operations.
The Premier League’s broadcasting arm, Premier League Productions, would be allowed 23 workers, while there would be 15 international commentators. The BBC – should they not be showing the game live – would be allowed two people inside the venue.
Four doping control officers would be among the others permitted along with six opposition scouts, one from each of the next three sides those playing are set to face. Two press officers from each club would also be present.
A minute’s silence will be held in honour of the NHS when Premier League football returns
Every Premier League club will also have a heart-shaped NHS patch on their shirts
In addition, as revealed by Sportsmail on Wednesday, a minute’s silence will be held for when football returns next week.
Clubs have been told that tactical briefings with players in the dressing rooms ahead of kick-off can last no longer than 15 minutes.
It can also be disclosed that the away team will walk out of the tunnel first, followed by the hosts then the officials.
Tactical briefings in the dressing rooms before kick-off cannot last more than 15 minutes
The Premier League will follow the Bundesliga with expanded team benches for substitutes
At stadiums where it allows, two tunnels will be used. Equipment checks are to take place at the dressing room door, rather than the tunnel area.
On the pitch, the Premier League anthem will still be played but players will stand at a safe distance from each other. There will still be a coin toss.
Fans can also expect to see expanded team benches in an attempt to allow members of the technical staff to socially distance.