The Premier League season will continue despite the government unveiling plans for a second lockdown England.
Boris Johnson has announced a month-long period of heightened restrictions lasting until December 2, to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.
“We’ve got to be humble, in the face of nature,” declared the Prime Minister. “The virus is spreading even faster than the worst case scenario of our scientific advisors.”
During the first lockdown, which started in March, the Premier League was suspended and it took over three months for the season to resume.
The Premier League are confident they can navigate the latest restrictions without the need for a suspension this time round.
However, the Premier League and its clubs are awaiting full details of the second lockdown to be outlined from the government, to ensure professional sport can continue.
Measures introduced include shutting hospitality venues and preventing outbound international travel apart from work trips, as first reported by ITV .
Travel for work within the United Kingdom is permitted for work purposes, meaning Premier League clubs should be able to make the journey for away fixtures.
Teams should also be allowed to stay overnight before fixtures, as overnight stays away from home are allowed for work trips.
Elite sport is already exempt from certain restrictions such as quarantine periods, while the season will continue despite the likely imminent lockdown.
(Image: Getty Images)
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But the news means the return of fans to stadiums – which had been originally scheduled for this month – is likely to be pushed back further until 2021 at the earliest.
Meanwhile, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters believes the top flight is well prepared to continue during a second lockdown.
Strict testing measures are already in place, with thousands of Covid-19 swabs carried out each week for players and club staff.
He recently said: “We don’t feel the closed doors model is at risk at the moment.
“We think we’ve got a proven model that worked in Project Restart, and at the moment we’re happy, and so are government, that we can continue.”
However, lower down the English football pyramid, where clubs have been severely hit, financially, by not being allowed to have fans return, the situation could be more dire.
Elsewhere, UEFA has extended the deadline for teams to complete Champions League and Europa League group-stage matches until 28 January.
If clubs cannot host home matches in their own country due to national restrictions, then a neutral venue must be found to avoid forfeiting the fixture 3-0.
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