Why the Premier League is so desperate to return from the coronavirus pandemic by mid-June

The Premier League and virtually all of its invested parties – from the players to the clubs – want to play

As the situation has started to change, so too has the mood. There is suddenly a new confidence within the Premier League about bringing football back for mid-June, and more concrete plans.

It isn’t quite the bombastic self-confidence that many feel usually characterises the competition. Because, after years of singularly leading the way, the Premier League is looking abroad with great interest. Specifically to Italy, Spain and – above all – Germany.

The Bundesliga is set to be the first major league to come back in the Coronavirus crisis, with plans for a return on 9 May.

What happens there, and in other countries, will be instructive. The Premier League plans to take ideas about what does and doesn’t work from competitions like Germany’s – if they are played at all.

Some connected sources in the Bundesliga and European football are dubious. They feel Spain and Italy could yet be voided, and that the German league will – at least – be delayed. It is currently the subject of huge debate, right up to government level. One source feels the Bundesliga may have to wait until schools re-open in some way, and that “there’s no way they’re going to start on 9 May”.

The Premier League hopes to be back by mid-June (Getty)

It is a situation the British government is as mindful of as the Premier League.

After a period when the tragic extent of the crisis naturally shifted priorities, Westminster has now returned to the idea of getting football back for the mental wellbeing of the nation, as well as the economy.

“Government clearly want football back and will do whatever they can,” one source said.

That doesn’t mean they’ll do anything, though, which is why the German situation is so relevant. Some connected sources feel there is currently a “negative stand-off”.

The Premier League and virtually all of its invested parties – from the players to the clubs – want to play.

Much of that has obviously been influenced by broadcasting contracts, but there is more to it. There is also a fear that up to four Premier League clubs could go into administration if the postponement goes on longer than the summer.

This is why some supporters groups told The Independent off the record that they would at least understand the idea of games behind closed doors.

Football may be nothing without fans, but no games may genuinely mean there’s nothing to go back to. This is another contrast with Germany, and the more strident Ultra culture. Some Bundesliga groups have made it clear they want to see a reckoning for a hyper-capitalist game that has long been coming.

The Bundesliga is attempting to return in May (Bongarts/Getty)

There are admittedly elements of this crisis that are a genuine existential threat to the game.

Hence, many clubs are willing to waive certain issues of sporting integrity like playing at neutral venues for nominal home games. They know there are far bigger concerns.

Those bigger concerns are similarly why the Premier League are never going to say “we can’t play”.

On the other side, though, the government won’t be the ones to outright say “you can’t play”.

The issue is that would at least prevent a breach of contract with the broadcasters. That would be a relief to clubs. In legal terms, it would be frustration of contract.

The government, however, do not want to do this, either. They do want football back. But they don’t want to totally own this situation if it goes wrong, and becomes a public relations disaster. Everyone wants someone else to point to.

That’s where the negative stand-off lies.

That’s also why so much is dependent on the logistics of this.

The complications of “project restart” have now been laid out a lot, although there is a confidence they can be overcome.

By far the biggest issue is testing. Clubs feel they can get around that by paying for private tests, but that’s another potential area for a public relations disaster. It won’t look good if Premier League players are getting a series of tests, while the NHS still struggles.

At the same time, all of these plans are based on the rationale that this can only happen at a time when the curve has significantly flattened, and workplaces like offices and nurseries will be open. There is also hope that the situation has improved to the degree that they can feel comfortable training by the second week in May. Many are similarly aware at how distasteful such discussions seem at the present time.

On the other side of that, mind, many within the game are frustrated by “lazy” hardline stances that they just shouldn’t be thinking about coming back right now. The feeling is everyone is going to have to adapt in some way, so why not football – especially given its social value.

The Premier League has been unfairly criticised for its contingency planning (Getty)

It’s not like football is saying they must come back exactly as it was with 40,000 crowds, either. They are merely preparing plans for when it is possible – like everyone else. The reality is everyone is going to have to adapt in some way, so why not football too.

This is perhaps best illustrated by one of the other big concerns: the problem of requiring medical staff pitchside for potential injuries. Even there, it has been pointed out in meetings that some London hospitals are already scaling back their ICU responses and moving staff back to their regular roles.

There would still be a number of highly irregular complications to this World Cup camp plan – first reported by The Independent in March – not least as regards ensuring the players and staff live and play in an insulated, “sterile environment”.

“The only safe way, as far as I can anticipate, is this idea of each club having its own quarantine base,” one source says. “The squad goes into camp seven-14 days before first game. Players’ health situations are monitored. Nobody leaves or enters the camp. Just players, coaches and medical staff.”

One problem that hasn’t yet been figured out is one that goes right back to the start of the crisis, and what many describe as a “nightmare”: what happens if a player or staff member contracts Coronavirus during all this?

In Germany, they would put the player in quarantine, but his team would be allowed to continue competing. They may not even have to notify the press.

That would lead to pointed questions if key players are suddenly absent.

These are all questions that the Premier League will look to find solutions for at the next meeting on Friday.

The mood, at least, is that bit more confident than the last one.