The hopes millions of soccer fans globally who have been anticipating the return of the most glamorous football league in the world, the English Premier League, EPL, appears to have been dashed as Brighton have confirmed that a third player has tested positive for coronavirus.
The chief executive of Brighton, Paul Barber, told Sky Sports News: “It is a concern.
“Unfortunately we’ve had a third player test positive yesterday (Saturday, May 9), so despite all of the measures that we’ve been taking over the past few weeks, where the players haven’t been involved in any significant training at all, we’ve still suffered another player testing positive for the virus.
“So there are concerns and I think it’s normal for all clubs to have those concerns.
“We want to make sure we do everything that we can to ensure those protocols are in place and are safe and secure and mitigate the risk as far as we can.”
It is expected that Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, will during an address later tonight relax the UK’s coronavirus lockdown regulations.
His words are expected to set the tone for the initial stage of the Premier League’s Project Restart – As the plan to get top division football back underway is currently dubbed.
A video call is scheduled to take place today between league chiefs and the clubs to discuss how players can return to training later this month with a view to matches resuming in June.
But Brighton’s latest positive COVID-19 test will only intensify the doubts which are increasing amongst players and staff.
Several Premier League clubs are against the idea of having to resume the season in the midst of a global pandemic.
“To be asked to finish a quarter of the season under new rules and conditions is an entirely different proposition.
“How can the long-term future of clubs be determined under these fundamentally changed conditions? How is there any semblance of fairness? To wave aside all the fears and concerns is too simplistic.
“Surely all 20 clubs must agree the fairest way forward to complete the season?”
