Premier League respond to Police calls with statement on neutral venues for some matches

The Premier League have released a statement declaring their desire "to complete all of our remaining fixtures this season home and away, where possible"

The Premier League insist they hope not to use neutral venues for matches "where possible" when the season returns on June 17.

Police on Friday called for six fixtures to be moved to neutral venues.

But as many as a dozen fixtures in total have been mooted, including the opening weekend's Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool.

Mirror Football revealed on Thursday that it could potentially be played at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium.

Other moves, such as the London Stadium for Tottenham vs Arsenal and Wembley for Tottenham vs West Ham, have also been proposed.

"The Premier League's ambition is to complete all of our remaining fixtures this season home and away, where possible,” declared a statement.

"We are working with our clubs to ensure risks are assessed and minimised, while co-operating with the police at a local and national level.

"Discussions with the National Police Chiefs' Council and UK Football Policing Unit have been positive and are continuing.

"We are prepared for all outcomes and have a neutral venue contingency."

Premier League bosses will meet with the Government and police next week to decide which neutral venues, if any, will be used when the season restarts.

Chief executive Richard Masters had earlier appeared on Sky Sports, where he stated his hope that a decision on neutral venues would be made in the next seven to 10 days.

He also hoped that the number of matches at neutral venues would be “low”.

"Ultimately what we want is the season to be played out on the pitch, and try and keep it as fair as it possibly can be," he said.

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber, who has been one of the main opponents of neutral venues, said he expected all his side's matches would be played on a home-and-away basis on Friday.

"Obviously the majority of home games we expect to be at home for everybody," he said.

"And I understand there are some small number of games where the police do need to look more carefully at the operations for those games.

"But we don't know which games they are, we haven't been given that information so, as far as we're aware of this side, it doesn't affect our club.

"But obviously we're delighted that the police and the Government and the Premier League have found a way for the majority of games to be played at everyone's home stadiums."

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