Premier League club doctors 'raise concern' over Project Restart plans

A number of Premier League club doctors have expressed their concerns about the 'Project Restart' plans with the league bosses, according to the BBC.

The Premier League has been suspended since March 13th but proposals are being debated that could see a return behind closed doors at neutral venues in the coming weeks.

The BBC reports that concerns have been raised by club doctors, with one issue being that senior medics are seeking assurances over their own liability and insurance cover if a player contracts coronavirus.

It is also added that the Premier League has been asked to provide some clarity over medical protocols, testing and player welfare, with the 20 club doctors holding their own discussions around the 'Project Restart' plans.

The aim is to feed their thoughts into the Premier League's leadership, with a league source telling the BBC they viewed the move by the medics as a natural part of the process with clubs, and a means of reaching 'the best possible set of protocols'.

They also confirmed that the league was in talks with insurance companies over the issue of club and doctor liability, and that this would be brought up with Government representatives this week.

The Premier League will be represented on a cross-sport working group of medical experts and public health officials, which will meet for a second time in a week on Wednesday, where they are devising the health and hygiene measures that players, managers and club staff will be asked to agree to before full training and then competition can resume, but only if the Government deems it safe to do so.

The Government is set to review its lockdown measures at the weekend, with the Premier League meeting to potentially vote on plans next Monday.

There is believed to be a significant split over the neutral grounds idea, with several clubs said to be reluctant to vote for a plan that would deny them home advantage for some of the crucial remaining fixtures.

It is claimed that Wembley Stadium is “likely” to be selected as a neutral ground, along with host of other Premier League stadia.

Here is a full list of the stadiums listed in a Telegraph report as potential venues:

Premier League rules mean that votes need a 14-6 majority to get a motion through - and the Mirror report that the crunch vote, at this moment in time, is finely balanced heading into a potential decision day.

It is still though that June 12th remains the "favoured restart date" for action to get back underway.