12 Thursday, April 30, 2020 Sports Manchester Utd given permission to trial safe standing at Old Trafford AFP LONDON Resuming football season MANCHESTER United have been granted permission to ‘definitely possible’, claims install 1,500 safe-standing seats for use in a trial when UEFA medical committee Old Trafford is opened again to supporters. AFP The use of barrier seating LAUSANNE has been approved following a change in regulations and a UEFA’s medical committee All football organisations feasibility study carried out by believes restarting seasons which are planning the the club. suspended because of the restart of their competi- Fans are not expected to be coronavirus pandemic “is tions will produce permitted to attend matches definitely possible”, just as comprehensive protocols... for at least a number of months several European countries with English football indefinite- are ruling out attempts to ensuring that the health of ly suspended due to the corona- return to action. those involved in the virus outbreak. “All football organisations games is protected and Even when matches do re- which are planning the restart the integrity of public turn, they will likely take place of their competitions will policy is preserved. behind closed doors for the for- produce comprehensive proto- seeable future. cols... ensuring that the health -- UEFA’s medical committee However, United insist of those involved in the games chairman, Tim Meyer, in a work can be carried out on is protected and the integrity statement the project whilst respecting of public policy is preserved,” social distancing guidelines said UEFA’s medical commit- to ensure it is ready for when tee chairman, Tim Meyer, in a possible, avoid playing com- fans can return. statement on Wednesday. petitive football in the coming “It may seem strange to “Under these conditions weeks. Try to be prepared for talk about stadium plans at this and in full respect of local leg- the start of good competition time, but football and our fans islation, it is definitely possible next season,” he told the BBC. will return when it is safe, and to plan the restart of competi- The Dutch league season our preparations for that must tions suspended during the has been abandoned, with no continue in the background,” 2019/20 season.” promotion or relegation, while said United’s managing direc- The comments come a the French Prime Minister on tor Richard Arnold. day after the chairman of Tuesday poured cold water on “This announcement is the Manchester United’s Old Trafford will trial safe standing when supporters can return to matches. (AFP) FIFA’s medical committee, the the idea that the Ligue 1 and latest step in what has been a Belgian Michel D’Hooghe, said Ligue 2 seasons may resume long journey with our fans. Arnold added that the bar- develop the installation, com- been mandatory in the top two But there has been a re- he was “sceptical” about re- by saying no major sport in the “We have listened to their rier seats can enhance specta- pliance and licensing plan for tiers of English football since newed push in recent years for starting league football during country could take place until feedback, in particular, the rep- tor safety in areas of the ground the trial, with a view to hav- 1994/95, following recom- safe standing to be brought into the pandemic and suggested the end of the summer. resentations made by MUST where fans persistently stand ing the new seats installed mendations on stadium safety the top levels of English football national competitions concen- In addition, Belgium is (Manchester United Support- anyway and that the trial could for when we can welcome our made in the Taylor Report, with United set to follow fellow trate on getting ready for next expected to officially end its ers’ Trust), and worked with be extended to other areas of supporters back to Old Traf- which was commissioned af- Premier League clubs Totten- season instead. league season at a meeting Trafford Council to develop and the stadium. ford,” said Arnold. ter 96 people died in the 1989 ham and Wolves in installing “My proposal is if it is next week. approve this proposal.” “We will now move on to All-seater stadiums have Hillsborough disaster. rail seating. ‘How many have to French football ponders next steps after die?’: Neville voices fears over Premier being told season cannot restart AFP The season could in theory what will happen to a record PARIS still be played to a conclu- TV rights deal with Chinese- League plans sion, somehow. Jean-Michel owned group Mediapro due FRENCH football clubs are Aulas, the president of Lyon, to kick in next season. The AFP conditions. bracing themselves for a ma- insists as much. four-year deal is worth €1.15 LONDON “If health comes first, there jor financial hit after Tues- “I wonder if we can’t billion annually. is only one outcome at this day’s government announce- come up with a format which The group do not even GARY Neville fears Premier moment in time. How many ment that the current season would allow us to finish the have a channel in France as yet League players’ lives will be put players have got asthma? How would not be allowed to re- season in July or maybe Au- and it seems to be the worst at risk if football is rushed back many players have diabetes? start, with the uncertainty gust,” Aulas said. possible timing for them to set too soon after the coronavirus- “Have they assessed all of leaving even all-powerful However, it is worth re- up in a new market. enforced lockdown in Britain. these things and are they will- Paris Saint-Germain facing membering that Lyon were In the meantime, Eu- Premier League chiefs are ing to put those people at risk?” potentially serious conse- seventh when the season was rope’s other leading leagues aiming for a return to action in The UK is among the worst- quences. suspended and so stand to will be closely following de- June and several clubs opened hit countries in the global COV- Clubs had been optimis- miss out on European quali- velopments. their training grounds to play- ID-19 pandemic, with more tic that the season -- sus- fication for the first time in Germany remains hope- ers this week as they work on than 21,000 deaths so far. pended in mid-March with 24 years if no more games ful of restarting the Bun- “Project Restart”. The country is on lockdown 10 games remaining -- would are played. A child playing football outside Paris Saint-Germain’s Parc des Princes. desliga in mid-May, and in The English top flight is un- until at least May 7, but govern- be allowed to resume in mid- In contrast, Nice president PSG were 12 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 when the French season England there is government derstood to be aiming to run a ment officials have spoken in June behind closed doors. Jean-Pierre Rivere said the was suspended. (AFP) support for the idea of get- huge testing operation to keep positive terms about a potential That would have guaran- government had made “a wise ting the Premier League up footballers safe, with reports of return for football if the virus is teed revenue from television, decision, very responsible”. Champions League qualify- top of lost gate receipts and and running again “as soon 26,000 tests being lined up for under control. but Prime Minister Edouard ing berths. sponsorship. as possible”. players and staff. - ‘No football for months’ Philippe delivered a hammer WILL PSG GET TITLE? France had reported Spanish football is hop- But FIFA’s medical chief -Germany’s sports ministers blow in an address to the Assuming no more 23,660 deaths from Covid-19 WHAT FUTURE FOR NEYMAR, ing to return possibly in early Michel D’Hooghe said on have said the Bundesliga could National Assembly as he de- matches take place, the by Tuesday, one of the high- MBAPPE? June, with La Liga president Tuesday that football should return next month but Dutch tailed plans to ease the strict league must decide how to est totals worldwide. How- PSG, whose wage bill last Javier Tebas saying “football not be played until September football chiefs have called an lockdown introduced to curb end the season. It is under- ever, the determination to year pushed €350 million, is an important economic and former Manchester Unit- end to the Eredivisie season and the spread of the coronavi- stood that France will not get football up and running are reportedly in discussions driver that we need to reacti- ed defender Neville is worried the Belgian campaign is in the rus. follow the lead of the Neth- again was an economic one. with their squad over pay vate like many others.” that Premier League stars will balance. “The 2019-2020 profes- erlands, who decided to void With UEFA eager to start cuts. They reportedly stand Nevertheless, Italian be put in danger by the rush French Prime Minister Ed- sional sports leagues, nota- their season with no champi- next season in good time, to lose up to €215 million in sports minister Vincenzo to return. ouard Philippe said football bly football, cannot restart,” on, relegation or promotion. Ligue 1 appears in an impos- the crisis. Spadafora has warned that “The FIFA medical officer would not return in his country Philippe said, while adding Final placings could sible situation. It raises the question of Italy may now have to follow said that football should not until at least September.