Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said that the return of the Premiere League would considerably help lift the spirit of the nation.
While speaking at Downing Street’s daily briefing on Tuesday 5th May 2020, he said, “I think it would lift spirits of the nation.”
“People would like to see us get back to work and children can go to school safely but also pastimes like sport,” Raab added
Premier League officials have been considering possible ways players could resume and complete the 2019/2020 season. In light of this, Raab said that government ministers are meeting with sport bodies to determine potential days fit for athletes to resume sports.
“I know that the Government has had constructive meetings with sports bodies to plan for athletes to resume training when it’s safe to do so,” he disclosed.
Raab stated that Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, has been working on the plan to for sports to resume though sports will be behind closed doors.
“I can tell you that the culture secretary has been working on a plan to get sport played behind closed doors when we move to the second phase so that is something we are looking at,” Raab said.
He however stated that returning to sports could only be possible if proper medical advice has been given on how the sport could be safely played.
“Of course, the key point though – we can only do it when the medical advice and scientific advice is that it can be done safely and sustainably. But certainly that is something under active consideration,” he noted.
With this in mind, medical experts are to meet next week to outline safety protocols for managers and players.
Raab also hinted on manners in which sports would resume and at what point fans would be allowed back into the arenas in their considerable number.
He said there are many ways this could be done given that focus is on how the pandemic could be gotten rid of.
“I can’t look too far into the future because there are various different ways we can get control of the virus permanently, defeat it for good – a vaccine is certainly one of those and therapeutics are another,” he said.
“I think, we are all waiting to see how effective internationally test, tracking and tracing can be – I think that is also an option.
“Whether it is a combination of test, tracking and tracing and other social distancing measures within what is possible within a sporting environment, we want to see whether behind closed doors.
“So I think it is worth taking a close look at that, seeing whether it is possible to do it safely but as ever taking the scientific and medical advice as to when and how to proceed,” he reiterated.
