The English Premier League, on suspension for over two months is now to resume on the first day of June and this piece of news is coming from the United Kingdom government.
All soccer matches in the entire divisions of England had been suspended since March 13 after a meeting of shareholders over the outbreak of Corona virus following the positive test result of Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta and Chelsea striker, Callum Hodson-Odoi necessitating a complete stay at home order and self-isolation of players of the different clubsides across all tiers of British football in what was initially thought to be a short break with a possible April 4th return.
The raving pandemic however swept across the globe leading to casualties and fatalities which has ensured a no-show for football all over the world except in one or two countries, leaving the football family hanging and yearning for a return to football as quickly as possible.
The prayers of all has now been answered as the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson released a 50-page document serving as a road map to easing the lock down late Sunday evening. The document entitled “Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government’s Covid-19 Recovery Strategy,” is said to contain a road map on how to ease the lockdown restrictions during the Covid-19 crisis starting with the “permission of Cultural and Sporting events to kick start behind closed-doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact”, but not before June 1st.
Part of the strategy is for the matches to be played without fans, meaning that the remaining matches of the 2019/2020 season is now to be concluded behind closed doors. “Only approved” neutral play grounds are now to serve as match venues.
What this means is that Nigerian players in England which includes but not limited to Alex Iwobi at Everton, Ndidi Wilfred, Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City and Odion Ighalo of Manchester United can now resume football officially from June 1st 2020.
Further details on fixture pairings and adjustments including venue, date and time is now being expected from the Premier Football Association.
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