Premier League seeks to allay players' training health fears

Premier League will seek to allay players' concerns about health risks as government prepares to release protocols allowing a phased resumption of contact training in easing of coronavirus restrictions. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday set out how elite sports could resume in June if re is t a new spike in COVID-19 infections. government is planning to release a strategy later this week on road map to players being allowed to resume group training even as social distancing is being encourd in wider society.

“It’s about building blocks — how long before we can go back into full contact training?” Premier League chief executive Richard Masters told reporters. "It does depend on what sort of contact because obviously you’re trying to ensure players keep mselves safe even during that contact training situation and that will have to be dealt with on a case by case basis.”

It is two months since last games were played before league was suspended during pandemic. “One thing is for sure," Masters said. "All clubs will have to be safe and secure in kwledge that ir players are going to be fit before a decision on going back on pitch is taken, given that y have had such a long lay-off. "We have talked about four weeks of training but haven’t agreed yet as we haven’t agreed to go back to training.”

Masters said players will be consulted about how a safe environment can be created at training and n games. “It is right that y will have concerns and questions and we need to hear those first,” Masters said. Manchester City and England forward Raheem Sterling has broader concerns. “ moment we do go back we need to make sure it’s at a moment where it’s t just for footballing reasons, it’s safe for t just us footballers but whole medical staff, referees,” Sterling said on his YouTube channel. "I don’t kw how that’s going to work. I feel like once that side of people’s safety and player’s safety is secured and ir well-being is being looked after, n that’s right time to go back in. 

"Until n, I’m … kind of reserved and thinking what worst outcome could be, but at same time looking forward to it.” Players and coaches will be regularly tested at training venues for COVID-19. Masters does t envis full squads having to self-isolate if re is a situation like at Dynamo Dresden last week. Two players at German second division side tested positive for coronavirus, forcing entire squad, coaching and supervisory staff to enter 14 days of quarantine at home. “If a player tests positive,” Masters said, “providing he has been socially distanced in protocols, he would be isolated for a period but re would be need for rest of group to be."

Im credits: Twitter