MX23RW : Saturday, January 18 20:04:13| >> :60:3417:3417:

Premier League "waiting to hear" whether Leicester lockdown will impact games

Premier League
© Reuters
The Foxes are due to host Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

The Premier League is waiting to hear whether the localised lockdown in Leicester will force the club to postpone home games or play at a neutral venue.

The league's chief executive Richard Masters was asked what the situation was following the decision to impose a stricter lockdown in the city because of a spike in coronavirus cases.

"We are waiting to hear," he told MPs at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee evidence session.

He did say that the league had contingencies to "put matches elsewhere or postpone them until it is safe to do so".

"Of course contingencies are part of our planning," he added.

Leicester are due to host Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Masters was also asked about the mass gatherings which followed Liverpool's Premier League title win, in particular one which involved fireworks being aimed at the Liver Building in the city centre.

Questioned as to whether the Premier League took any responsibility for what unfolded, he said: "What happened was regrettable but we are not in control of people's actions.

"It got out of hand in the same way that we have seen gatherings on beaches and street parties in wider society.

"Individuals have to take responsibility for their own actions."

Liverpool fans let off flares outside the Liver Building
Liverpool fans let off flares outside the Liver Building (Peter Byrne/PA)

He praised Liverpool as a club for the 'stay home' messaging they had issued to their supporters.

He was also asked about the lack of updates for supporters regarding the proposed Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle.

Those leading the £300million buyout must first pass the league's owners and directors test, but the process has taken a long time.

"We can't provide a running commentary on things, I can't talk about the specifics of this," he said.

"There are legal requirements that need to be observed."

The Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle rumbles on
The Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle rumbles on (Owen Humphreys/PA)

The World Trade Organisation found that the Saudi state had facilitated the activities of the beoutQ pirate broadcasting network, while the league has also been told it is at risk of "becoming a patsy" for the Saudis by Amnesty International over its human rights record.

Masters said spectators coming back to matches was "the most important part of the return" at Premier League level and below but said it would be a Government decision on when it was safe for that to happen.

He said a working group was "looking at the specifics and the conditions that would need to be met" for fans to return.

"Football is willing to play a part in that, offer technical solutions and act as a guinea pig."

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Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson pictured in June 2020
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool21155150203050
2Arsenal21127241192243
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle22115638261238
5Chelsea21107441261537
6Bournemouth22107536261037
7Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
8Aston Villa2110563132-135
9Fulham228953430433
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2171043229331
11Brentford2284104039128
12Crystal Palace226972528-327
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd217592629-326
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2275102743-1626
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs21731143321124
16Everton203891526-1117
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2144133148-1716
18Ipswich TownIpswich2137112037-1716
19Leicester CityLeicester2235142348-2514
20Southampton2113171347-346


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