Premier League agree to resume contact training
Squads are now able to train as a group and engage in tackling while minimising any unnecessary close contact.
The Premier League say their priority is the health and wellbeing of all participants.
Strict medical protocols are in place to ensure the training ground is the safest environment possible and players and staff will continue to be tested twice a week.
Stage Two of the Return to Training protocol has been agreed following consultation with clubs, players, managers, the PFA, LMA and the Government say the Premier League.
Discussions are ongoing as work continues towards resuming the season, when conditions allow.
Shareholders are due to meet tomorrow to discuss a settlement package with the broadcasters, sanctions for players or clubs that break stage two protocols as well as discussions options of deciding places should the season be curtailed.
Claret and Hugh say:
This vote for contact training was always going through on the nod without any real dissent from the Premier League shareholders. Top-flight clubs are now free to resume full content training subject to government guidelines and Premier League protocols as they gear up for the league to re-start in June. Tomorrow they will discuss what penalties will be in place for clubs or players that break these protocols but it remains unlikely a restart date will be chosen this week.
The UEFA deadline of 25th May came and went on Monday without a decision and the prospect of a restart on 12th June seems to be slipping away now. It is much more likely that the top-flight league will resume on 19th or 26th June with Premier League CEO Richard Masters publicly admitting this week that the restart date is flexible.