MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 15:35:59| >> :60:1979:1979:

Rio Ferdinand: 'Premier League cannot please everyone'

The season is currently suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand believes there is no viable resolution to the resumption of the 2019-20 season that will satisfy all 20 Premier League clubs.

Top-flight clubs are understood to have been told that the use of eight to 10 neutral grounds is the only way to complete the campaign in a way which satisfies the Government and emergency services amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber is among those opposed to the idea, with the Seagulls hovering two points above the drop zone with nine fixtures remaining – five of which would have been at home.

Brighton had nine fixtures remaining before the season was suspended - five of which would have taken place at the Amex Stadium (Daniel Hambury/PA)
Brighton had nine fixtures remaining before the season was suspended – five of which would have taken place at the Amex Stadium (Daniel Hambury/PA)

Ferdinand told the PA news agency: "The Premier League are in a position where they're not going to please everybody. There are going to be people whose noses are put out of joint.

"Teams in the relegation zone (will be) saying 'we were relying on our home form with the backing of our fans to make sure that we remain in this league', which you can understand.

"But we're in uncharted territory and we've never been here before so to expect that the Premier League and the FA are going to have an absolute resolution for this that's going to suit all parties would be very, very naive.

"People are going to feel at a disadvantage if certain decisions are made but I don't think the Premier League can have a wholehearted 100 per cent win on this no matter what decision they make, which is unfortunate."

Player welfare is an issue that could dominate the agenda if the Premier League presses ahead with its plans to complete the season.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and Brighton counterpart Glenn Murray have raised objections from a safety point of view.

While Ferdinand sympathises with their concerns, he thinks the players must put their faith in medical staff at clubs as well as the Premier League, the Football Association and the Government to act in their best interests.

Speaking at the launch of Amplify Pro, Ferdinand added: "In any situation and any walk of life the not knowing and uncertainty always leads to an element of fear and this is no different from anything else.

Sergio Aguero has expressed concern at a possible return to action (Mike Egerton/PA)
Sergio Aguero has expressed concern at a possible return to action (Mike Egerton/PA)

"It's understandable but I think the players will need to be putting their trust in the medical staffs at their clubs.

"The Premier League, the FA and the Government, if all of those three bodies give it the green light then I'm sure the players' protection, health and well-being will be at the top of their agenda to make sure they remain healthy and not at risk.

"That's where the players' trust has to lie and they've got to believe that these powers that be are doing it for the right reasons and that's that health is at the forefront of everything."

ID:398794: cacheID:398794:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7486:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Werder Bremen attacker Milot Rashica in action against Borussia Dortmund on February 4, 2020
Read Next:
Kosovo chief confirms Liverpool want Milot Rashica
>
Read more about Rio Ferdinand Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!