UK government\u2019s cabinet minister responsible for sports on Monday said he had been in talks with the English Premier League to ensure the game return soon.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a parliamentary questions session, Oliver Dowden, Culture, Media and Sports Secretary, said this was with the aim of getting football back on the field as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI personally have been in talks with the Premier League with a view to getting football up and running as soon as possible in order to support the whole football community.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut of course, any such moves would have to be consistent with public health guidance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Premier League, which has been on hold since March 13, remains suspended until at least April 30.<\/p>\n
The suspension will be as the lockdown measures are in place in the United Kingdom until May 7, when the government is set to review the current restrictions in place.<\/p>\n
But three London clubs \u2014- Arsenal, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur \u2014- along with Brighton, have already re-opened their training grounds.<\/p>\n
They are only allowing limited return to training while observing social distancing protocols.<\/p>\n
Those clubs said players would only be using outdoor field facilities for individual work and would not take part in team activities.<\/p>\n
Premier League clubs will hold their latest conference call on Friday as they continue to evaluate various options for finishing the season.<\/p>\n
But a re-start of matches is not expected until June at the earliest.<\/p>\n
Last week the league said it was \u201cworking through complex planning scenarios\u201d and there are a number of practical hurdles that they face.<\/p>\n
With the ban on mass public gatherings likely to be one of the last restrictions to be removed, rescheduled games could be held behind closed doors, possibly at neutral venues.<\/p>\n
English cricket\u2019s governing body, the ECB, has been given the leading role for all sports in the country, including football, in examining how to create bio-secure\u2019 venues`.<\/p>\n
This is with the focus on stadiums with hotel facilities connected or nearby \u2014\u2013 to limit the need for extensive travel.<\/p>\n
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