The Premier League plans to return to training next Monday. However, several players do not want to participate due to concerns.
Because of the corona crisis, the world of sports has been almost at a standstill for many weeks. But while the Bundesliga stars in Germany are happy about the restart of the league next Saturday, there are far greater concerns in Great Britain.
There, if the politicians agree, training is to resume next Monday, but already several clubs are worried that their players will not be able to attend the training sessions.
Clubs fear that players with asthma, players with vulnerable family members and players with Asian roots will not appear on the club premises. According to Mirror Sport, one team has already been told by two professionals that they will not attend training sessions because their concerns are too great.
Sterling expressed concerns
The boss of Aston Villa, Dean Smith, had already gone public to inform fans that two of his professionals suffer from asthma and are unlikely to play. In the Brighton team, the partner of one of the pros suffers from serious health problems.
On Wednesday there will be a crisis meeting between the captains of the individual teams, the league, the players’ union and medical staff. Earlier in the day, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling and Tottenham star Danny Rose had expressed concerns about a reopening.
For next Monday, the league plans a slow return to training, initially without any contact between the individual players. The pros will be sent a 40-page document in which they will be asked, among other things, to occupy only every third parking space on the training ground and to wear masks during training.
Players should not be put at a disadvantage
In addition, a corona test should be performed twice a week.
The players’ union is also trying to ensure in the negotiations that athletes who refuse to participate in training are not disadvantaged. “I think it’s a time when everyone has the right to make their own decision as long as we use the best people to answer any questions or concerns they may have,” said union boss Gordon Taylor.