Premier
League chief executive Richard Masters say he hopes the final two fixtures
of the season can see up to 10,000 fans in attendance.
Fans are set to return to sporting events, in limited numbers, from May 17,
subject to further reviews, as a part of the government's four-step road map
out of lockdown.
The final weekend of the Premier League season is set to be played on May
23. To maintain a competitive balance and ensure all 20 clubs get to play a
home game with fans present, another round of fixtures, yet to be decided,
is expected to be shifted to May 18-20.
"The government's road map is really welcome, it sets out a plan for the
return of supporters," Masters said.
"Hopefully the final two of the fixtures of our season will have up to
10,000 supporters in them all. We have got to get past those first initial
steps in the road map to get there but it will be a fantastic finale to the
end of our season."
Masters has said the Premier League are hoping stadiums will be able to open
at full capacity next season, as football and the country continues to
return to some form of normality.
"First step is to see that trophy presented on May 23, hopefully in front of
10,000 fans somewhere in this country. Beyond that is full stadia by the
beginning of next season.
"There is a lot of water to pass under the bridge until that can happen, but
that is our goal. A return to full, vibrant stadiums, a return to the normal
Premier League.
"We have got to get through step one to step four in the road map and look
at the national picture and work with the government to create the
conditions for that to happen. We believe it is an achievable goal.
"The vaccination programme is the light at the end of the tunnel. It's the
thing that changes everything, from being controlled by the virus to
controlling it, and returning to normality.
"If the vaccination programme works in the way the government wants it to,
it will bring the return of stadium, theatres, cinemas and ticketed events
generally."
'We need to unite Premier League clubs'
Over the last 12 months Masters has had to deal with the challenges brought
on by the pandemic, but also the controversial Project Big Picture proposals
made last year.
The rejected reduction of the Premier League down to 18 clubs, the potential
scrapping of the EFL Cup and the end of the one-club one-vote principle were
among the suggestions made in a proposed radical shake-up of English
football.
When asked if he thought clubs had acted in self-service during the
discussions, Masters replied: "Of course, and that is natural.
"The Premier League is a sporting competition and a very competitive
environment. The job of the executives and the board is to try and find a
consensus among that. In most occasions we were able to do that and find
that right answer to questions with a step-by-step process.
"I think we need to unite Premier League clubs around a plan for the future,
a lot has happened over the last 12 months."
Looking ahead to the rest of 2021, Masters added: "Next year is the last
year of our current financial programme, we need to set a clear plan for the
Premier League and the rest of the pyramid for the next three years.
"If you can throw in a successful Champions League win (for a Premier League
side) or even a Euros win (for England) that would be even better."
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