By Frank Kamuntu
London: Premier League football is poised to return after a three-month shutdown, with top-flight games in England provisionally set to resume on Wednesday, June 17, 2020.
Aston Villa Vs Sheffield United and Manchester City Vs Arsenal are scheduled to be the first two games when the Premier League resumes next month, with a full round of matches taking place for the first time since the restart on June 19-21.
However, as a SpyUganda follower and a football fan, you should note the following Premier League return – key points
1. Provisional restart date of June 17 agreed, subject to safety requirements Aston Villa Vs Sheff Utd, Man City Vs Arsenal scheduled for June 17.
2. Full match round to start June 19.
3. All games behind closed doors.
4. Venues still to be confirmed.
5. The fixtures set to take place on June 17 were originally postponed due to the EFL Cup Final and the rearranged Manchester City vs Arsenal game was due to be broadcast live on Sports TVs before the pandemic struck. Every club will have played 29 Premier League games after those midweek matches.
However Premier League table – as it stands this season’s remaining games are set to be played on any seven days in a week, with fans set to enjoy up to four live matches on Saturdays and Sunday and new staggered kick-off times will be used for the remaining 92 matches.
Games on Friday will kick off at 8:00Pm, while on Saturday the slots will be 12:30Pm, 3:00Pm, 5:30Pm and 8:00Pm. Sunday matches will kick off at either 12:00Pm, 2:00Pm, 4:30Pm and 7:00Pm, with Monday games starting at 8:00Pm.
Midweek games on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays will kick off at either 6:00Pm or 8:00Pm.
However, the plan for football to resume behind closed doors awaits the green light from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and government.
TheSpy Uganda understands that stage three – the return to play aspect – of the DCMS’ guidance on the return of elite sport is still being finalised.
COVID-19 Impact On Football
1. March 5 – Pre-match handshakes banned in the Premier League.
2. March 11 – Man City Vs Arsenal is first Premier League game suspended;
3. Liverpool Vs Atletico Madrid the last top level game played in England.
4. March 12 – Man Utd, Wolves play away Europa League ties behind closed doors, Rangers host Bayer Leverkusen in front of fans.
5. March 13 – Football suspended following an emergency meeting between PL, FA, EFL and WSL
6. April 15 – SPFL clubs approve plan to end the Scottish Championship, League One and league Two seasons.
7. May 15 – League Two clubs vote to end the season with immediate effect.
8. May 17 – Premier League players and staff tested for COVID-19.
9. May 18 – Scottish Premiership curtailed, with points per game determining league positions and Celtic named champions.
10. May 19 – Premier League clubs return to socially distanced group training.
11. May 25 – Women’s Super League cancelled, with title and relegation to be determined.
12. May 27 – Premier League clubs vote to resume contact training.
