Premier League writes to Government and clubs make test events call as Leeds United await Anfield opener

The announcement comes on the eve of the delayed 2020-21 Premier League season which will see newly-promoted Leeds United begin their top-flight campaign with Saturday evening's clash at champions Liverpool (kick-off 5.30pm).

The season is starting one month later than normal with the 2019-20 season having been delayed by 15 weeks due to the country's ongoing battle against coronavirus which is continuing to see all games played behind closed doors.

The Premier League, though, believe measures are already available which would allow the safe return of fans.

A Premier League spokesperson said: "The Premier League has written to Government today to express its concern at the decisions taken to restrict, and potentially delay, the planned programme for the return of fans to football stadiums.

"With test events now capped at 1,000 supporters, we believe they will not provide any opportunity to properly test and evaluate measures designed to maximise fan safety.

"Therefore, Premier League clubs will defer holding test events until a sufficient number of fans are allowed back to enable thorough trials to take place.

"At 1,000 supporters, not only would there be little to learn from a test event, but each match would be heavily loss-making.

"For each month of the season without fans, more than £100 million is lost to football across the leagues, with consequent damage to the local and national economy.

"It also harms the employment prospects of more than 100,000 people whose jobs depend on matchday activities.

"Our clubs have already prepared test events and can offer larger scale trials to prove it is possible to produce bio-secure, safe environments, as was proved through the successful delivery of Project Restart.

"The Premier League recognises the ambition of Government’s Operation Moonshot and will support the project’s objectives to get fans back into stadiums.

"However, we believe measures are already available which would allow the safe return of fans and should also be activated now.

"As the Government begins its review of the 1 October date for the return of spectators to sport, the Premier League asks that the high safety standards which can be achieved by our clubs are fully taken into account before any decision is taken and that sport is not left behind other industries."

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Thank you Laura Collins