Football club doctors warn of ‘risk of DEATH’ for players as they deliver a 100-point email to the Premier League detailing major concerns about their plans for Project Restart
- Club doctors have written to the Premier League about football’s return
- Over 100 issues have been raised about players’ safety during training
- Many club medics are seeking answers over how guidelines can be passed
- Some top-flight sides have already returned to training as part of Project Restart
- A proposed date of June 12 is the target for Premier League football to return
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Club doctors have reportedly written to the Premier League laying out urgent concerns over players’ health and wellbeing ahead of football’s return.
Many of England’s top-flight sides have already returned to training with Premier League chief Richard Masters hoping to get the action back underway by June 12.
However, a return so soon without extensive knowledge on the coronavirus has left Premier League club medics fearing the worst, with many insisting that it still poses a real ‘risk of death’ despite the precautions that have already laid out.
Club doctors have written to the Premier League about the unknown risks of football’s return
Over 100 issues have been raised by Premier League club doctors about players’ safety
According to The Athletic, doctors associated with Premier League clubs were invited to anonymously to send their concerns and any questions over to the league’s medical adviser Mark Gillett and director of football Richard Garlick.
The report claims that the Premier League Doctors Group (PLDG) listed around 100 questions and issues over returning to training, which laid out multiple concerns that are yet to be addressed.
Doctors have questioned how they could ‘approve’ guidelines while there is still a risk of death while more clarity is needed over how a club can expect to cope with such a significant policy development and change in such a short period of time.
Questions were also raised over the possible transmission of the disease via sweat and how long the virus lives on goalkeeper gloves.
Premier League chief Richard Masters hoping to get the action back underway by June 12
Another issue that was highlighted was the suggestion that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups are at a higher risk of contracting the disease.
The lengthy report also relayed doctors’ frustration over advice that forbid them from conducting medical treatment and manual therapy at training grounds unless ‘essential’.
They explained: ‘Medical staff will have regular close player contact. We cannot expect players not to require increased hands-on assessment and treatment following a long period of rest.’
As revealed on Tuesday night by Sportsmail, several clubs have delayed their return to training until May 18 at the earliest amid growing concerns over player welfare.
While clubs are expected to return to small group training on that date, the email claims that there is ‘no criteria-based progression from small group to full team training that exists yet’.
Medics have also referenced how 23-year-old Montpellier midfielder Junior Sambia contracted the disease while being regarded as a fit, young athlete who is still capable of being infected.
Logistics are also a pressing concerns for club medics.
They have questioned how long the coronavirus can live on equipment like goalkeeper gloves
‘Where will we source PPE, as there is a clear issue with supply chain? Many private hospitals are closed… second opinions and imaging cannot be accessed. Can we be sure they will be up and running by the time we are doing small group work?’, one of the points read.
It continued: ‘What is the call-out time if we have a problem on the training pitch? Do we have to use NHS care, which may not be satisfactory and poses risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection in A&E and hospital?’
The communication has also pointed how some clubs are reportedly suggesting how may clubs already ignoring guidelines, posing a real risk of greater infection among players and staff.
While there are plenty of topics that need urgently answering, the Premier League did reportedly tell The Athletic on Tuesday that it was committed to answering every single question raised.
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