• Liverpool's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring their second goal in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth, one of the last round of Premier League games at the beginning of March. To see the other matches that weekend, swipe the picture. Reuters
    Liverpool's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring their second goal in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth, one of the last round of Premier League games at the beginning of March. To see the other matches that weekend, swipe the picture. Reuters
  • Leicester City beat Aston Villa 4-0 on March 9 in the last Premier League game to take place. Jamie Vardy celebrates after scoring the third goal. EPA
    Leicester City beat Aston Villa 4-0 on March 9 in the last Premier League game to take place. Jamie Vardy celebrates after scoring the third goal. EPA
  • Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette scored the only goal against West Ham. Reuters
    Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette scored the only goal against West Ham. Reuters
  • Brighton's Lewis Dunk (left) battles for the ball against Wolves during the 0-0 draw at Molineux. PA
    Brighton's Lewis Dunk (left) battles for the ball against Wolves during the 0-0 draw at Molineux. PA
  • Pedro of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's second goal in the 4-0 win over Everton. Getty
    Pedro of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's second goal in the 4-0 win over Everton. Getty
  • Anthony Martial scored the first in Manchester United's 2-0 win over rivals Manchester City. EPA
    Anthony Martial scored the first in Manchester United's 2-0 win over rivals Manchester City. EPA
  • Crystal Palace's Jordan Ayew scores the goal in the 1-0 win against Watford. Reuters.
    Crystal Palace's Jordan Ayew scores the goal in the 1-0 win against Watford. Reuters.
  • Sheffield United's Billy Sharp strikes in the 1-0 win over Norwich. Reuters
    Sheffield United's Billy Sharp strikes in the 1-0 win over Norwich. Reuters
  • Newcastle United's Allan Saint-Maximin celebrates scoring their goal in a 1-0 win a Southampton. Reuters
    Newcastle United's Allan Saint-Maximin celebrates scoring their goal in a 1-0 win a Southampton. Reuters
  • Tottenham's Dele Alli scores their goal from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw at Burnley. Reuters
    Tottenham's Dele Alli scores their goal from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw at Burnley. Reuters

Disinfect balls and corner flags, no tackling and no food: The new training rules for the Premier League


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Premier League players are set to be subjected to a strict testing regime if they are to return to training amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports.

Protocols sent to all 20 Premier League clubs have been seen by the BBC and detail the need for corner-flags, balls, cones, goalposts and even playing surfaces to be disinfected after each training session.

Other measures in the guidance include twice-weekly testing, and a daily pre-training questionnaire and temperature check.

Should a player test positive, with or without symptoms, they will be forced to self-isolate for seven days.

All players will have to travel to a training ground individually and avoid public transport. Once there they will not be allowed to gather in communal areas and will not be allowed meal on the premises.

Tackling and contact will be banned for the first phase of team training.

Meanwhile club medical staff must wear personal protection equipment when treating the players.

A meeting involving players, the Professional Footballers' Association and the British government over safety and health issues surrounding a possible restart of the game is set to take place on Wednesday.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, said his members would be open to playing again provided "everything that can be done is being done" to assure their safety.

"We've got to try it, see if we can do it and see if we can return to some form of activity," Taylor told the Mirror.

"But it's also being as careful and having as many assurances as possible that it's achievable."

England internationals Raheem Sterling and Danny Rose are the two latest high-profile players to raise their concerns over a return to contact sport when the rest of society is being advised to follow social-distancing guidelines.

"The moment we do go back it just needs to be a moment where it's not just for footballing reasons, it's safe for not just us footballers but the whole medical staff, referees," Sterling told his YouTube channel.

Meanwhile Rose, on loan at Newcastle from Tottenham, told an Instagram live: "People's lives are at risk.

"Football shouldn't even be spoken about coming back until the numbers have dropped massively."

A further complication for Project Restart is where any matches would be played, with the clubs opposed to a proposal for a limited number of neutral venues to be used.

The UK's national football policing lead previously stated resuming matches on a home-and-away basis would "present challenges" to the emergency services.

But Mark Roberts said on Tuesday that police, government and football authorities were working together on a plan "which minimises any risks to public safety and unnecessary pressure on public services, but facilitates a sensible restart to the season."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has come out against the idea of playing matches in the capital at this stage, with the city having been particularly badly hit by the pandemic. Five of the 20 Premier League sides are based in London.

"With the country still in the grips of this crisis, and hundreds of people dying every day, he believes that it is too early to be discussing the resumption of the Premier League and top-flight sport in the capital," Khan's spokesperson told the Evening Standard.

Premier League clubs face having to pay a huge refund to broadcasters even if they manage to complete the virus-disrupted season behind closed doors.

Broadcasters would be reimbursed for matches not being played as scheduled and the lack of atmosphere in empty stadiums is also a factor.

The BBC reported the bill could be as high as £340 million (Dh1.53bn) and would surge to £760 million if the season cannot be completed.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has previously warned of a £1 billion loss once the absence of gate receipts is taken into account.

New government guidelines have paved the way for elite sport to return behind closed doors in England from June 1.