Project Restart latest: Metropolitan Police to 'make plans as necessary' once Premier League schedule confirmed

The Metropolitan Police say they will "make plans as necessary" relating to the policing of upcoming Premier League fixtures once the revised schedule is finalised.

Top-flight football action in England is provisionally set to resume on June 17 following a three-month suspension of the 2019-20 season resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

And while the Premier League have reiterated their ambition to play every game on a home and away basis, they also confirmed last month that a "neutral-venue contingency" was in place as talks continue with the National Police Chiefs' Council and UK Football Policing Unit.

Up to six of the remaining 92 fixtures this term were believed to be in line to move to neutral venues after being labelled as high risk, with the country’s most senior football police officer, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, stressing the need to balance the needs of football with minimising the demand on policing.

Standard Sport understands that no matches scheduled to take place in London have been deemed as high risk, despite fears that remaining capital derbies could be among the games needing to be moved.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police said discussions between the relevant parties remain ongoing, with decisions to be made only once the new schedule is confirmed.

"The MPS have been in regular contact with the NPCC football lead DCC Mark Roberts who is co-ordinating the policing response to the restart of any football matches across the UK," the statement read.

"Whilst agreement has been reached as to when the season may recommence, the plans for this to happen are still being finalised.

"We remain in contact with all the relevant bodies and will make plans as necessary when we receive a final proposed schedule for games."

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