Amex Stadium will divide into red, amber and green zones for Premier League return

Traffic lights and one way systems may sound like the Brighton ring road but it's now the reality facing Premier League football stadiums as they prepare for a return to action.
The Amex StadiumThe Amex Stadium
The Amex Stadium

The Amex and all top flight stadiums will be divided into three zones as the 2019-20 campaign looks set to resume on June 17.

Brighton's first match will be on Saturday, June 20 at 3pm as they welcome Arsenal for a behind closed doors clash. They then travel to Leicester on June 23, before hosting Man Utd on June 30.

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Clubs met on Thursday to discuss some of the logistics and it was reported stadiums will be split into red, amber and green zones.

Red Zone

This will be the most severely restricted area, including the pitch, the tunnel, technical areas, changing rooms will be limited to 105 people maximum, to include players, coaching staff, match officials and all the essential staff only.

Only those who have tested negative for Covid-19 in the past five days can enter this area. A Clinical Passport System will be created for those who will need to have access to the red zone.

Amber zone

"This area will be restricted to the minimum number of staff required to meet contractual requirements for broadcasting, media and club staff. This area includes all interior areas within the stadium and anyone entering this area will be subject to a temperature check and a health questionnaire.

Green Zone

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This is the stadium exterior and will include areas such as car parking.

New rules

In all areas, social distancing will be observed and a series of one-way systems and other procedures are expected to be incorporated.

This will likely include the dressing room (save for 15 minutes for the pre-match tactical talk by the manager) and the showers.

A strict accreditation process will also be developed, including an isolation room should anyone develop symptoms of Covid-19 whilst within the stadium.

Players

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The league's rule that clubs must pick their strongest available team remains is place. Players must refrain from spitting and everything must be disinfected, including the corner flags and match balls.

There can be no sharing of drinks and no hand shaking.

Atmosphere

Lower-tier rows of seating in each of the 20 stadiums will be covered by clubs' insignia and fan representation. TV viewers will experience 360 degree replays and have pre-match tunnel access and all shirts will feature the NHS logo on the front.

Project Restart fixture schedule

Wednesday, June 17 Aston Villa v Sheffield United (1800, Sky Sports), Manchester City v Arsenal (2015, Sky Sports)

Friday, June 19 Norwich v Southampton (1800, Sky Sports and Pick), Tottenham v Manchester United (2015, Sky Sports)

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Saturday, June 20: Watford v Leicester (1230, BT Sport), Brighton v Arsenal (1500, BT Sport), West Ham v Wolves (1730, Sky Sports), Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (1945, BBC)

Sunday, June 21: Newcastle v Sheffield United (1400, Sky Sports and Pick), Aston Villa v Chelsea (1615, Sky Sports), Everton v Liverpool (1900, Sky Sports and Pick)

Monday, June 22 Manchester City v Burnley (2000, Sky Sports)

Tuesday, June 23 Leicester v Brighton (1800, Sky Sports), Tottenham v West Ham (2015, Sky Sports)

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Wednesday, June 24 Manchester United v Sheffield United (1800, Sky Sports and Pick), Newcastle v Aston Villa (1800, BT Sport), Norwich v Everton (1800, BBC), Wolves v Bournemouth (1800, BT Sport), Liverpool v Crystal Palace (2015, Sky Sports)

Thursday, June 25: Burnley v Watford (1800, Sky Sports and Pick), Southampton v Arsenal (1800, Sky Sports), Chelsea v Manchester City (2015, BT Sport)

Saturday, June 27 Aston Villa v Wolves (1230, BT Sport),

Sunday, June 28 Watford v Southampton (1630, Sky Sports and Pick)

Monday, June 29: Crystal Palace v Burnley (2000, Amazon Prime)

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Tuesday, June 30: Brighton v Manchester United (2015, Sky Sports and Pick)

Wednesday, July 1: Bournemouth v Newcastle (1800, Sky Sports and Pick), Arsenal v Norwich (1800, BT Sport), Everton v Leicester (1800, Sky Sports)

West Ham v Chelsea (2015, Sky Sports)

Thursday, July 2: Sheffield United v Tottenham (1800, Sky Sports), Manchester City v Liverpool (2015, Sky Sports)

Remaining fixtures (dates and times to TBC)

Matchweek 33: Burnley vs Sheffield United, Chelsea vs Watford, Leicester vs Crystal Palace, Liverpool vs Aston Villa, Manchester United vs Bournemouth, Newcastle vs West Ham, Norwich vs Brighton, Southampton vs Manchester City, Tottenham vs Everton, Wolves vs Arsenal

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Matchweek 34: Arsenal vs Leicester, Aston Villa vs Manchester United, Bournemouth vs Tottenham, Brighton vs Liverpool, Crystal Palace vs Chelsea, Everton vs Southampton, Manchester City vs Newcastle, Sheffield United vs Wolves, Watford vs Norwich, West Ham vs Burnley

Matchweek 35: Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace, Bournemouth vs Leicester, Brighton vs Manchester City​, Liverpool vs Burnley, Manchester United vs Southampton, Norwich vs West Ham, Sheffield United vs Chelsea, Tottenham vs Arsenal, Watford vs Newcastle, Wolves vs Everton

Matchweek 36: Arsenal vs Liverpool, Burnley vs Wolves, Chelsea vs Norwich, Crystal Palace vs Manchester United, Everton vs Aston Villa, Leicester City vs Sheffield United, Manchester City vs Bournemouth, Newcastle vs Tottenham, Southampton vs Brighton, West Ham vs Watford

Matchweek 37: Aston Villa vs Arsenal, Bournemouth vs Southampton, Brighton vs Newcastle, Liverpool vs Chelsea, Manchester United vs West Ham, Norwich vs Burnley, Sheffield United vs Everton, Tottenham vs Leicester City, Watford vs Manchester City, Wolves vs Crystal Palace

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Matchweek 38: Arsenal vs Watford, Burnley vs Brighton, Chelsea vs Wolves, Crystal Palace vs Tottenham, Everton vs Bournemouth, Leicester City vs Manchester United, Manchester City vs Norwich City, Newcastle United vs Liverpool, Southampton vs Sheffield United, West Ham vs Aston Villa

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