In pictures: Empty stadiums and taking the knee – What the return of Premier League football looked like
- 1/18
Players and the officials at both fixtures use the first nine seconds of the match to take to the knee, displaying their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Manchester City's Raheem Sterling called the display a "massive step".
CARL RECINE via Getty Images - 2/18
For at least the first 12 fixtures in the Premier League's restart, all players will have "Black Lives Matter" across their shirt, rather than their names. The move is part of the Premier League's wider support for the movement for racial equality following the death of George Floyd in the US last month.
Marc Atkins via Getty Images - 3/18
With a ban on large crowds, all games played in the remainder of the Premier League season will be played behind closed doors. No fans will be allowed to attend, with restrictions on the amount of staff and journalists in each stadium.
Laurence Griffiths via Getty Images Yahoo News is better in the app
- 4/18
With coronavirus restrictions in place, football clubs must adjust protocol accordingly. All clubs will be using sanitation stations – including protective gloves, hand wipes and disinfectant – to be used before every fixture.
Marc Atkins via Getty Images - 5/18
Before kick-off players observed a minute's silence for in honour of the NHS workers on front line in fight against coronavirus. Players also wore heart-shaped NHS badges on the front on their shirts
David Price via Getty Images - 6/18
With no fans allowed in the stadium, one alternative has been allowing fans to watch the match virtually, with fan reactions broadcast on big screens within the stadium.
Laurence Griffiths via Getty Images Yahoo News is better in the app
- 7/18
Social distancing in the Premier League means that substitutes and coaching staff can no longer sit next to each other on the bench. Each player must maintain a two-metre distance while off the pitch, but with no fans allowed in the stadium, there is no shortage of seats.
SHAUN BOTTERILL via Getty Images - 8/18
With a lack of training, and a shortage of match-fitness, all Premier League games will include a drinks break half way through each half of football for the remainder of the season. Every player has their own designated drinks bottle, in line with government regulations.
Laurence Griffiths via Getty Images - 9/18
Given the lack of match fitness, one concern among players and management will be the potential increase in injuries. Arsenal's Granit Xhaka and Pablo Mari both came off with injuries within the first 20 minutes of their match with Manchester City. Teams will be allowed to make five substitutions – two more than normal – in an attempt to combat additional fatigue.
Pool via Getty Images Yahoo News is better in the app
- 10/18
Players have been advised to social distance as much as possible, even within games, meaning that goal celebrations are set to feature far less contact with teammates. While there is no crowd to cheer in the stadium, viewers watching on TV can choose to have crowd noise played over the broadcast.
Matt McNulty - Manchester City via Getty Images - 11/18
While so much about the Premier League is different, complaints about technology in the game continues. In the game at Villa Park, the goal-line technology system failed in the game's first half meaning that Sheffield United were denied a certain goal in a game they ending up drawing 0-0.
Pool via Getty Images - 12/18
Handshakes before and after the game, usually a staple of football matches from the grass roots to the highest level, are no more. Players will no longer shake hands pre-game, while managers – like Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola – find alternatives.
PETER POWELL via Getty Images Yahoo News is better in the app
- 13/18
Everyone within stadiums who are not playing on the pitch – from substitutes to medical staff – must wear protective gear and face masks in line with the government regulations. .
Laurence Griffiths via Getty Images - 14/18
With no fans in the stands, clubs have used the available space to promote sponsors and charities. One in 10 charities in the UK are facing bankruptcy within the year as they continue to struggle to cope with an estimated £10bn shortfall.
Matthew Ashton - AMA via Getty Images - 15/18
Government restrictions placed on the Premier League mean that everyone who is in the stadium who isn't playing must wear a mask.
Pool via Getty Images Yahoo News is better in the app
- 16/18
As well as medical staff, media staff covering the game must also wear protective gear and face masks.
Marc Atkins via Getty Images - 17/18
Guidelines also apply to arriving for games. Manchester City midfielder Raheem Sterling wears personal protective equipment as a precautionary measure against spreading COVID-19 as he arrives by car at the Etihad Stadium.
OLI SCARFF via Getty Images - 18/18
With social distancing in place, new rules follow. Press allowed to attend the fixture at Villa Park followed zones divvied into green, amber and red sections, with strict sanitisation and a one-way walking system in operation.
Marc Atkins via Getty Images
Luke Bradshaw
·Sports Writer
Updated
After a 100-day hiatus, the 2019/20 Premier League season finally kicked off again on Wednesday.
With new restrictions and protocol in place due to coronavirus measures, and people’s minds on the Black Lives Matter protestss, the game has had to adjust for Project Restart.
Aston Villa hosted Sheffield United at Villa Park in the day’s early kick-off, with Arsenal’s visit to the Etihad Stadium to play hosts Manchester City following on afterwards.
With no fans in the stadium, and social distancing in place, this was the Premier League’s version of “the new normal”.
READ MORE: Premier League footballer applauds 'energy and passion' of Black Lives Matter protests
READ MORE: Football team changes sponsor and shirt names to honour front line workers