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Grounds belonging to the bottom six of the Premier League could be selected as neutral spots to appease sides threatened with relegation, suggests Gary Neville.
England’s first flight has been suspended for two months and plans to resume are in full swing.
But Project Restart has seen his proposal to play in neutral spots opposed by some of the league’s last six.
Authorities see selecting eight to ten spots as the surest way to end the campaign.
But Watford, Aston Villa and Brighton have responded to the idea.
They see the house edge as a big factor in their battle to beat the fall, and Neville acknowledges that a deal could be struck by selecting his stadiums as neutral locations.
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He tweeted: “It is only a suggestion, but to completely disarm the last 6 without the relegation point why not the PL simply chooses its grounds as neutral places and lets them play at home.”
That would see Carrow Road, London Stadium, Vicarage Road, Vitality Stadium, Villa Park and Amex Stadium selected.
Watford President and CEO Scott Duxbury has already stepped out and said removing the games away from home compromises the Premier League’s sporting integrity.
(Image: PA)
“Of course, I absolutely accept that we cannot have fans at the stadium,” Duxbury wrote in The Times. “That is evident in the current situation.
“However, we are now being told that we cannot play our remaining local games on Vicarage Road and the familiarity and edge it brings.
“This in a context of players who, after seeing their lives upside down along with the rest of the world, are suddenly expected to act as if nothing had happened, despite the fact that the rest of society probably still faces the kind of restrictions that cannot be enforced on a soccer field
“We have medical club staff working under conditions that no doctor or physio has experienced with guidelines that are largely based on assumptions rather than scientific evidence at this stage.”
“And with all these commitments and health risks, we are being asked to end a competition that bears no resemblance to the one we started, which could end with a small club like Watford’s time in the Premier League.”
“So, is it fair? Does it have any appearance of sports integrity? Of course not.”
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