Premier League looking to get fans in stadiums digitally to boost atmosphere - EXCLUSIVE

Posted Wednesday, May 27, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Premier League games will be played behind closed doors after the coronavirus outbreak.

The Premier League are looking at more ways of getting fans into stadiums digitally to rev up the atmosphere in behind closed doors games. The Premier League are hoping that games can return on June 19.

Some grounds, like the London Stadium but also Tottenham’s new stadium and at Arsenal, Manchester City and United, also have LED ‘ribbons’ around the grounds, or screens on which fans faces could be shown.

Cardboard cut out fans, which have been used in Germany in the Bundesliga, a scheme begun by the fans of Borussia Moenchengladbach but now in use across several clubs with the league now into its third week of action, are being considered by some Premier League clubs, but others are less keen.

But fans faces could be shown digitally in prominent positions at certain grounds - which the Premier League believe might help bring some atmosphere to games behind closed doors.

A Premier League spokesman said: “We are currently looking at several methods of engaging with fans at games which are behind closed doors.”

Premier League looking to get fans in stadiums digitally to boost atmosphere - EXCLUSIVE
Premier League news: Games could return in June (Image: GETTY)

Many companies have been using Zoom to hold meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic, and people have been holding remote parties, quizzes and drinking sessions via the internet platform.

The Zoom video platform alone allows up to one thousand simultaneous connections but there are other systems being considered.

Fans though would not be allowed to watch matches via Zoom or any other platform, as that would contravene broadcasting rules.

A lot has been made of Premier League action returning, with Crystal Palace star Andros Townsend saying players need to be more trustworthy if contact training is to be introduced.

Premier League looking to get fans in stadiums digitally to boost atmosphere - EXCLUSIVE
Premier League news: Games have been suspended (Image: GETTY)

Any rebels, the Crystal Palace winger said, will be letting down their team-mates.

Over the weekend, one Bournemouth player and one other unnamed top-flight participant tested positive in the second round of tests taken by 996 people in all.

Two members of the Hull City camp were were also positive in the EFL's first batch of tests on 1,014 Championship players and staff.

All will now self-isolate for seven days and Townsend believes that the biggest threat to football not restarting by the end of June are those who refuse to stick to the guidelines.

"Phase One was about the clubs proving to us that they could provide a safe work place and they have more than done that,” he said.

"In Phase Two, you have got to start looking at your team-mates, because if there is a spike in testing it is because possibly one of your team-mates has not been respecting guidelines.

"I am sure there will be a big team meeting where senior players or management will have to explain the guidelines and make sure everybody knows how important it is to stick to them.”