With news that casinos in Las Vegas are putting plans in motion to open again, soccer fans from all around the world are waiting with baited breath for the return of the English Premier League.
What is arguably the biggest and most watched soccer league in the world, there are huge implications that need to be considered if the Premier League does return and how scrapping the season could hurt the league.
Trying for June 12
The Premier League is aiming to restore fixtures by June 12, using a set of neutral stadiums and playing games behind closed doors.
There are 92 fixtures left in the Premier League, but it’s not yet confirmed whether all 20 stadiums will meet the safety criteria set out by the government.
As it stands, the home grounds of Manchester City, Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham, Aston Villa, Leicester, Arsenal and Southampton look like frontrunners to be venues for the remaining fixtures.
Stadiums are graded on a number of factors including distance to housing, how easy it is to ring fence the stadium in case of fans crowding the outside of the stadium as well as how open the insides of the grounds are.
Unfortunately, there are a few teams that will likely not pass the safety criteria in time, meaning they will not see a single game at their home stadium.
A Bumpy Start for the Bundesliga
Over in Germany, the Bundesliga is due to get underway in a matter of days, but for Dynamo Dresden things couldn’t have gone more pear-shaped.
Two players tested positive for COVID-19 and it has forced the whole team to go into quarantine to be on the safe side.
This has caused a huge stir amongst the ranks in Germany, causing many to protest against the reopening of the Bundesliga.
On the weekend, Peter Dabrock, the ex-chairperson of the German Ethics Council, said that restarting the Bundesliga would set a dangerous precedent.
In a statement, Dabrock said:
It will have a fatal effect on the overall compliance with the restrictions. If the mantra is no contact, distance, hygiene, protection, but then of all things you allow a sport in which none of this can be adhered to from the beginning, then of course it will have the effect that people ask themselves, ‘Why do I have to stick to such restrictions?”
Is It Worth the Risks?
Punters, fans and players alike are all clamoring for the 2019/20 season to resume, and it’s safe to say sportsbooks are also eagerly awaiting the return of soccer to the world.
But doing so could put more people at risk, and if games are pay-per-view, more people could gather in secret at home, breaking lockdown rules.
Liverpool are set to win their first Premier League title in 30 years and awarding it to them with so many games remaining could be controversial, but it looks like it might be the best way to move forwards.
This would allow leagues to plan and prepare for the 2020/21 season, ensuring that it goes off without a hitch. If you’re betting with Bitcoin, this is great news for you!
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