The Premier League is pushing ahead with plans to resume the 2019/20 season, but there are some roadblocks to navigate.
As things stand, the league is looking into selecting between 8-10 stadiums to host the remaining 92 matches of the campaign.
There are fears that fans could otherwise congregate outside grounds when games take place.
Stadiums like Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium or Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium are the most likely to be selected, as they are located some distance from housing. This should make it easier for police to manage the surrounding area.
However, according to reports on Sunday, Premier League bottom six Brighton, West Ham, Bournemouth, Watford, Norwich and Aston Villa aren’t on board with the plans. Those clubs, threatened by relegation, are concerned by losing home advantage in some of their remaining fixtures.
Neutral venues have not formally discussed and any decision only needs to be voted for by 31 of the 20 clubs to go ahead. There are, though, fears that the bottom clubs could even refuse to fulfil their remaining fixtures.
According to one club executive, who spoke to the Telegraph, the bottom six clubs could agree to the plans if relegation is scrapped entirely.
That would certainly fix one problem, but it would also create others.
Last week the 2019/20 Ligue 1 season was prematurely ended in France, with the bottom two both relegated for 2020/21.
As things stand, Premier League clubs are still hoping to be back on the pitch by mid-June in a bid to complete the season by the start of August.
