Premier League clubs 'given green light from police to scrap neutral venues plan'

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Premier League plans to finish the season at neutral venues may be scrapped, with police open to clubs playing out the traditional home and away schedule, according to reports.

Daily Mail report that talks on Monday between the Department of Culture, Media and Sports, police, Sports Grounds Safety Authority and representatives from the Premier League, FA and EFL were positive.

Premier League clubs were told at the beginning of May that neutral stadia was the only way to complete the season due to health and safety reasons.

However, the Mail now report that a number of police forces have no objections to all 20 grounds being used to play out the remaining 92 games.

Clubs are now being asked to increase the number of stewards on matchdays, and foot the bill, to prevent supporters en masse turning up to stadiums where games will be being played behind closed doors.

Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, National Police Chiefs’ Council Football Policing Lead, said: “Following a positive meeting between police, government and football [on Monday], we will be jointly exploring a range of options to identify a way forward, which minimises any risks to public safety and unnecessary pressure on public services, but facilitates a sensible restart to the season, to support the economic and morale benefits associated with the sport.”

The reported development comes following Monday's Premier League shareholders' meeting where the majority of clubs opposed the neutral venue plan, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Standard Sport on Tuesday that he opposes the Premier League's proposed restart date in June.

A spokesperson told Standard Sport: “Sadiq is extremely keen for the Premier League and professional sport in general to resume.

"However, with the country still in the grips of this crisis, and hundreds of people dying every day, he believes that it is too early to be discussing the resumption of the Premier League and top-flight sport in the capital."

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