Rio Ferdinand aware Premier League cannot satisfy every club

Top-flight clubs are understood to have been told that the use of eight to 10 neutral grounds is the only way to complete the campaign in a way which satisfies the Government and emergency services amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber is among those opposed to the idea, with the Seagulls hovering two points above the drop zone with nine fixtures remaining – five of which would have been at home.

Ferdinand told the PA news agency: “The Premier League are in a position where they’re not going to please everybody. There are going to be people whose noses are put out of joint. Teams in the relegation zone (will be) saying ‘we were relying on our home form with the backing of our fans to make sure that we remain in this league’, which you can understand.

“But we’re in uncharted territory and we’ve never been here before so to expect that the Premier League and the FA are going to have an absolute resolution for this that’s going to suit all parties would be very, very naive.

“People are going to feel at a disadvantage if certain decisions are made but I don’t think the Premier League can have a wholehearted 100 per cent win on this no matter what decision they make, which is unfortunate.”

Player welfare is an issue that could dominate the agenda if the Premier League presses ahead with its plans to complete the season.

Some have raised objections from a safety point of view. While Ferdinand sympathises with their concerns, he thinks the players must put their faith in medical staff at clubs as well as officials and the Government.