Premier League clubs on Thursday agreed to restart the 2019-’20 season on June 17, provided that all safety requirements are in place with matches to take place behind closed doors. Aston Villa vs Sheffield United and Manchester City vs Arsenal will take place on that date, followed by a full match round beginning on June 19, the league said in a statement.
These two matches are the remaining games of the aforementioned clubs which would see all 20 Premier League clubs complete 29 fixtures for the season.
No matches have been played since Leicester’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa on March 9 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Liverpool just two wins away from securing the title.
Premier League shareholders also approved a proposal that would see all 92 remaining matches broadcast live in Britain.
“Today we have provisionally agreed to resume the Premier League on Wednesday 17 June,” said Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters.
“But this date cannot be confirmed until we have met all the safety requirements needed, as the health and welfare of all participants and supporters is our priority.”
The Premier League suspended all fixtures in March after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for Covid-19.
There are still 92 matches to play and although Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool appear certain to be crowned champions, the relegation and European qualification still need to be resolved.
Training return
Earlier on Wednesday, clubs unanimously voted to return to contact training after training in physically distanced groups for the past few weeks.
It is predicted that clubs face repaying up to £340 million ($419 million) to broadcasters.
So far, at least 12 people have tested positive for coronavirus after 2,752 tests across the Premier League.
Germany’s Bundesliga resumed earlier this month and La Liga in Spain hopes to return from June 11, while a crucial summit between Italian football officials and the country’s sports minister will be held later on Thursday.
Liverpool are 25 points clear at the top of the table while Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich City are in the relegation places.
The leaders could clinch the title with victory in their first game back should second-placed Manchester City lose to Arsenal.
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho spoke this week of his desperation to get playing again after seeing football resume elsewhere.
“Honestly, since the moment the Bundesliga started, the Portuguese league and Spanish league announced a date to start, I think it is the most difficult moment for us, because we want to play,” he told Sky Sports.
Some players have voiced fears over their safety and that of their families due to the virus.
Watford captain Troy Deeney has revealed that people have told him they want his baby son to contract coronavirus after he chose not to return to training.
Deeney has been absent from training since Watford and other Premier League clubs returned to non-contact sessions last week.
“I saw some comments in regards to my son, people saying: ‘I hope your son gets corona’,” Deeney told CNN Sport.
“That’s the hard part for me. If you respond to that, people then go: ‘Ah, we’ve got him’ and they keep doing it.”
Deeney is understood to be due to resume training next week.
(With AFP inputs)