The current times are proving hard for millions of people. However, sports fans are feeling the pressures in a unique way. Not only have the Tokyo Olympics between postponed, but the NHL is under curtailment, and soccer is waiting tentatively to start back up again.
One of the most popular leagues on the world soccer stage is the English Premier League. It is here where some of the country’s best teams compete against each other. Some – including world-leading squads in Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal – have been on pause for several weeks now.
Sports fans have been waiting for some time for new soccer action. Many are moving from soccer betting to online casino fun (read more about Canadian casinos on casinomarket.com). However, news has recently confirmed that the league will be returning, as of the time of publication, on June 17th.
Project Restart in Brief
As a result of the pause, Premier League teams have been mulling over whether to continue the season as-is or to start again. With Liverpool FC riding high at the top of the table, it’s hard to see why their fans might support a complete restart. However, the international sports press has been running wild with the idea.
While movements behind the scenes suggested that Project Restart might have been in the offing, that no longer seems to be the case. Towards the end of May, it emerged that contact training would begin again across all PL clubs. This, it seems, was a unanimous agreement.
Therefore, top stars from the top clubs are getting fit ahead of games which will pick up where things left off. With the UK easing some measures, many see that there are few reasons why sport should stay on pause.
However, some stars are nervous about returning to the pitch amid safety issues. That, on top of the prospect of a complete ‘restart’, is making the English soccer industry all the tenser. Thankfully for them, the restart factor has all but been pushed aside.
Heading Back to Normality
Normality for the English soccer leagues, as well as those elsewhere in the world, seems a little bit of a way off. Other sports are feeling the tension, too. Recent news emerged that many NHL teams would be offering season ticket fans the option to cash in their tickets as a result of empty stadiums.
The date for ‘heading back to normality’ was flexible up until recently. However, June has always mooted forward as a relaunch date. Fans and teams will likely feel relieved come mid-June when their games can kick off again as normal. Liverpool fans, in particular, will be keen to push on.
Premier League officials continue to emphasize that they want to keep players, staff, and fans safe. Therefore, it is currently the case that stadiums will – much like NHL’s – remain empty until conditions are healthy enough to return to normal.
At least for now, the threat of a costly and unpopular restart seems to be behind Premier League fans. Players are gearing up for the June 17th comeback – and hopefully, it will be under safe and healthy measures.
