London Stadium selected as a possible venue

It’s time to ask the question that has been overlooked for too long and it goes to the heart of the neutral grounds issue which is dividing Premier League chairman.

The question is: Why is the issue of playing the outstanding games being discussed as the only possible solution?

As far as we understand there has been no such suggestion in place to restart the Bundesliga!

It was initially raised by police via DCC Mark Roberts who claimed there would be challenges for the police if matches where titles, promotion or relegation are on the line draw crowds were outside the original venues.

He said:  “We all need to look at options about what games absolutely need to be played. Let’s look at how they can be managed, potentially at their own stadiums (our italics)  but equally if we can see benefits of playing at a neutral, controlled venue, both from the health aspects of it but also minimising disruption to the police, the ambulance service and all those other functions that are going to be stretched as people start going about their normal business.

Err, what normal business?

He added: “It may be that mandates them being played at specific neutral venues where it can be controlled. So I think the health aspect of it might dictate the security aspect of it.” No detail in there at all!

The current plan gives no indication of how things would be safer at a neutral ground than on each club’s home ground and the idea of people congregating outside is as likely in either situation regardless.

The reality is that with unessential travel banned anyway and the games behind closed doors there doesn’t seem to be a strong argument at all for neutral grounds yet has been seized upon as a magic bullet solution.

The reality is there appears to be very little difference between playing on home grounds or neutral grounds.

When chairmen are finally asked to vote on neutral grounds come next Monday – the first question should be: Why? What difference does it make!”