Premier League bans hand shakes as playing behind closed doors becomes more likely

The spread of coronavirus means it is likely Premier League matches will be played behind closed doors later this month, a Premier League club executive has revealed.

Sasha Ryazantsev, the Everton chief financial officer, said banning supporters from games in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus would be a decision imposed on Premier League clubs. However, with Italian authorities having taken the decision to play Serie A games behind closed doors until April, the possibility of something similar here is increasing he said.

“It would be a forced decision rather than one we would proactively engage in,” said Ryazantsev at the FT Business of Football Summit in London. “But the whole situation goes far beyond the world of sport. Nobody wants to play behind closed doors and I don’t think it’s inevitable that it will happen. But we feel it is quite likely it may happen in the coming weeks.”

David Moyes has banned shaking hands the Rush Green training ground and players now carry hand gel in their cards but West Ham has yet to comment further beyond to confirm they will follow the advice given to them by medical and football authorities.