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Premier League could roll out 'neutral' ground plan to all 20 stadiums next season

04 May 2020 12:03 (UTC +04:00)

Premier League clubs have been told the “eight to ten” neutral ground plan is an experiment - and all 20 could be used next season, APA reports citing Mirror.

The Premier League stressed to clubs it was the Government and the police who have insisted on the “approved” stadium idea in Project Restart with all remaining 92 games behind closed doors.

But it was made clear in last Friday’s meeting that if it goes to plan then next season all 20 grounds could be opened up for Premier League games and the end of this season was described as a “test run” for the neutral venues.

However, it is still uncertain even then whether clubs could return to playing at their own grounds because of the fear of fans turning up at their stadium or, more worryingly, congregating at nearby pubs.

The neutral grounds being used for the rest of the season is seen as the biggest single stumbling block in resuming the season with relegation-threatened clubs insisting that home advantage will be crucial to winning games during the run-in.

But the fear is that fans would still turn up in their droves to their own grounds and break social distancing rules which are likely to be in place well into next season which is why clubs are already resigned to behind closed doors games for much of the 2020/21 season.