Newcastle full back Danny Rose has given a scathing assessment of the government's willingness to allow the Premier League to return following the coronavirus outbreak.
The UK is still in lockdown as a result of the pandemic, in which over 30,000 people have lost their lives to date.
However, the Premier League top brass have got the wheels in motion on 'Project Restart', which plans to have the top flight return behind closed doors at a selection of neutral venues in June.
The Premier League could be set to resume in June... pic.twitter.com/VTqo0JDiJF
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The government are supporting the plan for the game to return in order to boost national moral.
However, Rose is less keen on the idea. Speaking on Instagram Live [via @thespursweb], the 29-year-old said: "The governments saying bring back football because it's going to boost the the nation's morale.
"I don't give a f*** about the nation's morale. Peoples lives are at risk!
"Football shouldn't even be spoken about till numbers have dropped massively. It's b*llocks.
"We'll see. I think I'm getting tested on Friday but we'll just have to wait and see."
Rose is not the first Premier League player to voice his concern about the proposed return of football.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero confessed that players were 'scared' about the prospect of football returning prematurely due to fear of infecting their families and loved ones.
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The current state of Europe's remaining top five leagues (after Ligue 1 was cancelled) and when we might see them return... https://t.co/aVQ3bc3qz3
Should the coronavirus not spike again, the Premier League is aiming to resume at the start of June, with club's pencilled in to return to training on 18 May.
A major facet of 'Project Restart' involved all games being played at eight to 10 neutral top flight venues. This was met by discontent by those near the bottom of the table, due to the loss of home advantage and fear of jeopardising their Premier League safety.
However, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has revealed that all 20 Premier League clubs would rather finish the season in their own homes, despite the government and police pushing for neutral venues to be used.
Source : 90min