Government tells football to plan for restart in June

But fans may not be allowed back into grounds until a vaccine is found.

“Permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed-doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact” is part of step two of the Government's road map, which is not due to start any earlier than June 1.

The Premier League are trying to work towards a June 12 resumption of the 2019-20 season, partly to protect its television contract. The Football League have drawn up a 56-day plan to complete all its games, including play-offs, which chairman Rick Parry said it needs to do by July 31. To achieve this they would need to start on June 5. However, with Leagues One and Two expected to be abandoned on Wednesday or Thursday, a slightly shorter timeframe may be possible.

A document published on Monday setting out the Government's position warned a restart will only be possible if sufficient progress has been made in limiting the spread of coronavirus, but organisations have been advised to “plan accordingly”.

The Premier League, which is meeting on Monday to further discuss “project restart”, and the Championship must now try to work out the details of a return.

UEFA has given its leagues until May 25 to set out a plan and a timetable for the resumption of their season.

Further complicating matters for many clubs – though not Sheffield United – is having players isolating in other countries. Quarantine restrictions are set to be imposed on those arriving in the UK from overseas, delaying how soon they can return to training.

The Blades have been working at their Shirecliffe training complex for a fortnight, but only in individual sessions observing social distancing guidelines. They have been unable to do any contact work since mid-March, allowing them to stay fit, but not “match-fit”. The general feeling is that two to three weeks of group training and potentially in-house friendlies would be needed to get players up to the required level for elite professional football.

One important argument for completing the season is financial. At present, around £762m-worth of televised Premier League matches are yet to be shown this season, and there is concern some broadcasters could demand a rebate of money most clubs have already spent. Around £371m would be due to Sky, £50m to BT and the rest to overseas broadcasters.

The Football League's deal is worth £119 a year.

The Blades committed to the £22m club record signing of Sander Berge in January on the basis they would be receiving more in television and prize money than they had budgeted for due to performances which far exceeded expectations when they won promotion last season. Like most Premier League transfers, it is paid for in instalments.

Rigorous testing of all those involved in matchdays would be an important part of reassuring them and the public it is safe to resume playing. The cost to the Premier League has been estimated at £4m.

Top-flight clubs will also have to reach agreement on the divisive issues of whether matches should be played at neutral venues. They must decide where the balance lies between undermining the sporting integrity of the league by not having all its teams play one another home and away, and the demands spreading each round of matches across 10 country-wide venues would have on the emergency services.

The Football League wants to play games at the originally scheduled venues.

Around 75 players across the top division and 1,400 in the Football League are out of contract as of July, although an agreement with the Professional Footballers' Association guarantees them a month's severance pay if they have not found another club by July 31. It is hoped this might be used to ask those who do not have other deals lined up to play for another month.

Of Sheffield United's soon-to-be out-of-contract players, only veteran defender Phil Jagielka has made a Premier League start this season, and manager Chris Wilder is very relaxed about the prospect of keeping him if needed. There are others on loan, most notably goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who the Blades have borrowed from Manchester United, their rivals for Europa and possibly even Champions League qualification in a restarted league.

There are therefore many barriers still to be overcome, but the Government's plans at least gave the sport hope that a restart may be possible.

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