The Premier League’s Project Restart proposal to complete the season at neutral venues was poorly received by clubs on Monday. Richard Masters, the chief executive, admitted “everybody would prefer to play home and away if at all possible”. Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur – the three biggest teams in London – were among those to express their dissatisfaction.

Of the remaining 92 fixtures, 22 are scheduled to take place in London while Watford have five home matches left at Vicarage Road.

The capital has been one of the worst-affected regions in the UK from the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the infection rate in the city coming down in recent weeks, Khan believes patience is required before attempting to get Premier League football back underway.

A spokesperson for the London Mayor told the Evening Standard: “Sadiq is extremely keen for the Premier League and professional sport in general to resume. However, with the country still in the grips of this crisis, and hundreds of people dying every day, he believes that it is too early to be discussing the resumption of the Premier League and top-flight sport in the capital.

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