Prem matches could be forced behind closed doors again after league officials refuse to delay season amid Omicron crisis

PREMIER LEAGUE matches could be ordered to take place behind closed doors by the government, according to reports.

A meeting between Premier League clubs decided matches would continue as normal after Christmas despite a rise in positive Covid cases.

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Games took place behind closed doors for almost the entirety of last season[/caption]

But fixtures could end up taking place without fans, report The Times.

Omicron cases are on the rise and although fans have shown proof of a negative test or a Covid passport to gain admittance, they could soon be blocked from attending if the government step in.

Fears around a high R figure mean the government could introduce further restrictions.

And if Premier League stadiums are needed as makeshift vaccination centres, fans may have to be excluded from live matches for the foreseeable future.

In such a scenario matches could be shown live on TV, as was the case from Project Restart until the end of last season.

The German government limited stadia capacity to 50% while Spain limited attendances in the early part of the season.

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But until the government introduces further measures, Premier League clubs have agreed for games to take place as normal – according to the scheduled fixture list.

It has also been decided teams will have to fulfil a fixture as long as they have 13 outfield players and one goalkeeper available for selection – with under-23s players to be drafted in as cover if necessary.

Liverpool and other unnamed clubs proposed moving a round of fixtures but this idea was rejected by the group.

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