‘Nonsense’: Senior policeman hits out at reported restart plan that deemed West Brom ‘high-risk’
A police and crime commissioner has hit out at the reported neutral venue plan that could see West Brom complete some of their remaining Championship fixtures away from The Hawthorns.
According to The Times journalist Martyn Ziegler, English football governing bodies have made a decision to play a number of matches at neutral grounds to avoid fans from gathering outside and breaking lockdown restrictions.
As part of that, the reporter suggested that West Brom and Leeds United were deemed to be two particularly “high-risk” cases in the Championship, and could see some of their games moved away from The Hawthorns and Elland Road respectively.
But Arfon Jones, police and crime commissioner for North Wales, has questioned the validity of the measures.
Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: “The push to play at neutral venues is nonsense and is not supported by evidence.
“At the end of the day, there are not going to be any fans [at the matches].
“They are basing neutral venues on the fact that fans may turn up to the ground, but there is no reason to suspect they will.”
From the outset, the prospect of playing some matches at neutral venues has seemed like an unfair one.
How can a league hope to uphold its sporting integrity when some clubs are being subjected to different measures from others?
Either all matches should be played at neutral venues, or none should be – there can’t be a middle ground on this.
The idea has found little favour with Baggies supporters either.
Our West Brom News super fans have branded the idea “ridiculous”, and we absolutely agree.
It’s pleasing that a figure of Jones’ authority has spoken out on the matter, and here’s hoping that his intervention can lead to a greater discussion – and perhaps even a revision of the initial plan.
In other West Brom news, Report – West Brom facing short summer break if promoted, potential PL kick-off date detailed.
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