The return of the Premier League next month took a major step forward on Monday, although a video conference between the clubs did not take a vote on the issue.
The first potential hurdle was governmental permission. Although the British government’s reluctance to ban anything outright throughout the crisis always made it unlikely that permission would be refused, formal confirmation came on Monday morning. A slight loosening of lockdown restrictions to be brought into effect this week has been largely confused with various statements and ministers contradicting each other almost minute-by-minute, but on this point at least there was clarity: “cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact” are to be permitted from June 1.