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Watford is the latest club to face plans to end the season in neutral locations, and President Scott Duxbury said the Premier League has a “duty of care” to address concerns about a “distorted nine-game mini league.”
Ahead of Monday’s decisive meeting of major shareholders, the Hornets have teamed up with Brighton and Aston Villa to make clear their opposition to the current ‘Project Restart’ plans.
The decision to use neutral grounds for the remaining 92 games remains in the Duxbury trap, with Watford 17 in the Premier League and seeking to avoid relegation in a challenging context presented by Covid-19.
“There is no altruism in the Premier League,” he said. “There are 20 different vested interests, which sometimes align, but most of the time they work exclusively to protect each individual club.
“This is why some clubs are happy to sign up for ‘Project Restart’ because there is possibly only one advantage to participating in this committed format; it means Liverpool can win the title, other clubs can reserve their place in Europe next season or potentially They fight across the table from a safe position.
“But when at least six clubs, and I suspect there are more, are concerned about the distinct downside and devastating effects of playing in this kind of distorted nine-game mini-league, then I think the Premier League has a duty to address those concerns
“If we start and end an entire season under these conditions and in neutral places when everyone knows the rules when we started, not created in times of crisis, then that’s clearly fair.”
“Being asked to finish a quarter of the season under new rules and conditions is a completely different proposition.
“How can the long-term future of clubs be determined under these fundamentally changed conditions? How is there any appearance of justice? Putting aside all fears and concerns is overly simplistic.”
“Surely the 20 clubs must agree on the fairest path to complete the season? I hope we can come together and find a solution that allows the season to end safely and fairly.”
Duxbury agrees that matches should be played behind closed doors due to the current coronavirus situation, but it is not an idea that he has to play away from Vicarage Road.
“Now we are told that we cannot play our remaining games at home on Vicarage Road and the familiarity and advantage it brings,” he said on the club’s website.
“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.”
West Ham CEO Karren Brady says “clubs on the brink are understandably concerned with giving up local advantage,” but believes everyone “will have to compromise,” though not in the best interest of the players and staff. .
The Hammers boss has spoken to all of his players to “assure them that their health and well-being is our primary concern,” and says there will be no compromise when it comes to playing and first going back to training.
“If the lockdown is lifted and the Government and PHE (Public Health England) give us permission to resume contactless training, there will be new rules for players and staff,” Brady wrote in his column in The Sun.
“This includes not sharing cars, up to the limit of the time that a small group training session must last (75 minutes) and be two meters away from each other. In this phase, boarding is prohibited but passing is permitted. and shoot. “
“We will also have to disinfect the corner flags, goal posts and even the grass, although it remains a mystery as that generally kills him.”
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