The head of the UK’s football police unit has told clubs opposing plans to play at neutral grounds to ‘get a grip’.
In significant comments that undermine the argument of the likes of relegation-threatened Brighton and Aston Villa, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts has reminded those complaining about integrity issues that 30,000 people in the UK have lost their lives as a result of coronavirus.
Christian Purslow, Villa’s chief executive, said he could not take the risk of triggering a £200million ‘catastrophe of relegation’ by agreeing to play at neutral venues and others battling at the wrong end of the table are also against the plans.