LONDON: Chief executive of Premier League club Watford Scott Duxbury has told the English media that the plans to resume the season at neutral venues are unfair.
The league is aiming for May 18 training return and June 8 season restart.
The Premier League’s “Project Restart” envisages a return to play in June, once given the green light from government, with the remaining 92 matches held behind closed doors at neutral venues.
“We are now told we cannot play our remaining home games at Vicarage Road and the familiarity and advantage that brings,” Duxbury wrote in The Times on Saturday.
Watford, who are 17th in the league and only above the relegation zone on goal difference, beat runway leaders Liverpool in a shock victory at their Vicarage Road ground in February — a result Duxbury says was influenced by home advantage.
“With all these compromises and health risks we are asked to finish a competition that bears no resemblance to the one we started, which could end a small club like Watford’s time in the Premier League,” he added.
Watford also said that at least six clubs are against the plans — 14 of the 20 need to vote in favour for the proposals to be agreed.
West Ham’s London Stadium, Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium and Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium have all been mooted as potential venues once football resumes.
It is almost certain that games will take place behind closed doors for the foreseeable future as part of the league’s ‘Project Restart’ plan to resume playing, subject to government approval.
The clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019/20 season, maintaining integrity of the competition and welcomed the Government’s support.”
“The debate is no longer whether football should return but whether the Premier League can deliver a model every club accepts as a fair and equitable solution before resumption.
At the start of this season there was no way Watford should beat Liverpool. Jürgen Klopp’s side are the world and European champions and play a style of football that is incredible to watch. They fully deserve to be crowned Premier League champions, however this season finishes,” Watford said in a statement on Saturday.
