Premier League looking at 'isolated camps' for World Cup-style finish to the season
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The English Premier League is looking at any and ALL options to get its players back on the pitch to finish the 2019-20 campaign. But, how would fans feel about the latest idea put on the table?
Per multiple reports, the EPL is looking at having all the EPL teams live in isolated camps in the Midlands and finishing the season with a 'World Cup-style' setup. With this format, all the remaining fixtures would be played in June and July, while every match would be televised.
Exclusive - Premier League plans have developed into clubs staying in quarantined World Cup-style bases and playing all games in midlands June/July
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) March 29, 2020
- all 92 remaining games would be broadcast in "TV mega event"
- govt backinghttps://t.co/O9OZCDqKO9
An idea so crazy it just might work. Per the Independent's Miguel Delaney, all the matches would be behind closed doors. Fans would not be allowed inside the stadiums for any of the games, only the necessary personnel.
The big concern here, of course, would be to keep all of the players healthy. Should this plan move forward, all the clubs' players, coaches and staff would be isolated at separate hotels, and would not be allowed to be with their families.
However, the league wants to make sure the COVID-19 pandemic does not continue to rise. Keep in mind Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi were among those infected by the coronavirus. Imagine in this World Cup format if multiple players tested positive. What would the league do then? They'd have no choice but to shut operations down.
While there's still a lot of moving parts here, the EPL wants to finish the season. How far are they willing to go to do so? We could find out very soon.