Luton could be playing again in June as Government gives football the green light to return

Luton Town could be back in Championship action next month after the government confirmed it would allow the return of professional football in England in June.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden attended a meeting with the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League today, and revealed plans for a resumption had 'progressed'.

Following on from a Premier League meeting on Monday to discuss Project Restart, and after the government confirmed training could potentially resume from May 25, it is hoped that matches might restart on June 12, although the games would take place behind closed doors.

In a statement, Dowden said: "Today's positive meeting I hosted with the football authorities progressed plans for the resumption of the professional game in England.

"We all agreed that we will only go ahead if it is safe to do so and the health and welfare of players, coaches and staff comes first.

"The government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June.

"This should include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game's resumption supports the wider football family.

"It is now up to the football authorities to agree and finalise the detail of their plans, and there is combined goodwill to achieve this for their fans, the football community and the nation as a whole.

"The government and our medical experts will continue to offer guidance and support to the game ahead of any final decision which would put these plans into action."

Speaking at the government’s daily press briefing, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, stated that any return in England will have to be a ‘slow and measured’ approach.

He added: "The overall approach with easing social distancing has been one that has been tentative, measured, slow and stepwise, and that is exactly the plan that is under way for all of elite sport – not just football.

"There will be small, carefully measured, stepwise approaches to seeing what can be achieved safely.

“The first of those is, really, is to return to safe training, still observing social distancing and measures are taking place, plans are taking place in quite some depth to be ready to do that, and that will be a stepwise thing.

“We will have to see how that goes before it is time to move on or even think about moving on to the return of competitive football matches.”