Glenn Murray
Brighton striker Glenn Murray has questioned the motives behind rushing the Premier League back into action.
The league is liaising with clubs and players in a bid to agree suitable conditions for action to return, with players currently easing themselves back into individual training.
Some players have been vocal in their opposition to Project Restart, with the likes of Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and Newcastle United loanee Danny Rose both voicing their concerns about football returning.
And Murray has become the latest to cast doubt over the wisdom of ushering players back on to the pitch in the midst of a global pandemic.
“Football is certainly not a necessity,” he told Sky Sports’ Football Show.
“It’s a game and it’s a sport. I can’t understand why after just loosening the lockdown we’re in such a rush to get it back.
“Can’t we wait a month and see what happens. Why can’t we wait to see what happens, rather than start an unnecessary sport when people are dying.”
Murray was sitting in as Brighton’s representative on the video conference call between the Premier League and club captains as they discuss the safest way to return to action, with West Ham’s Mark Noble and Troy Deeney of Watford both understood to be particularly vocal on the call.
Clubs such as West Ham have set up coronavirus testing within their training bases to keep a track on the status of their players to ensure there is no spread of the disease within squads.
But the 36-year-old Murray revealed that there is reluctance among some players to return to action, with some worried about putting others at risk.
“It was a long chat, in-depth and we mainly spoke about the first phase, not phase two or three. Phase one is returning to training grounds on social distancing levels, two is stepping into contact. Most of the players are pretty happy with phase one,” he said.
“There’s a lot of people with different situations, living with vulnerable people, pregnant wives and girlfriends.”