BACK TO NORMAL
Prem club chiefs will this week discuss a potential return to “normal” for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Clubs have opted to keep all match media briefings and interviews online since Project restart in June of last year.
While Watford unveiled boss Claudio Ranieri in a “real” event at Vicarage Road, that has been a rare situation.
League bosses remain aware of the consequences of a covid outbreak forcing matches to be cancelled in what is a ludicrously tight calendar with little or no room for postponed matches to be rescheduled.
All of last week’s pre-match events for non rights holders were conducted remotely, despite the mass vaccination campaign.
It has led to TV and media interviews on match days conducted through laptops with reporters sat in the stands and often struggling to hear answers because of the noise from mowers and other ground equipment.
But a potential timetable for getting back to the pre-covid world is up for discussion at Thursday’s “shareholder” meeting of the 20 clubs.
League bosses feel they have been successful in pushing the vaccination message to clubs and players, despite social media scare stories that saw some stars reluctant to get jabbed.
A full re-opening of training grounds and stadium media press conference rooms would be a further signal that the battle with the virus is being won, especially with more than 10m booster shots already given in the UK and children over 12 also receiving free injections.
The club bosses met in person for the first time since the outbreak in September and will again gather on Thursday.
Other issues include an update on the temporary rules restricting owner sponsorship of clubs amid continuing issues raised by the Newcastle takeover, the contentious “owners charter” and an expected confirmation of the next six-year US broadcast deal.
Source: The Sun