Could they void the PL due to the Coronavirus? | No | Resuming June 17th

[dumbo]

The most sensible solution if the season is voided is to cancel European football next season, but UEFA and top clubs would not accept that. It’s all about the money

Yep. It's going to be hard enough to organise a 38 game league season. It seems to me that the sensible and ethical thing to do would be to keep next season as simple as possible and to keep the spirit of the game alive as best they can. No travelling around the world for games, no extra cups and replays. FA cup and the league would surely be more than enough to keep things going.

If there is no Europe next season then the only thing you need to worry about now is pissing off promotion placed teams, and Liverpool obviously.

Of course it won't happen because football is not football, football is money, and money is everything. Stripping the game down, even for a single season, would not kill football but the financially interested will tell you that it would, because they don't really care about football and they don't really care about health and safety on the whole.

 

[redman5]

NO doubts about it. Less than that. Almost all EFL will disappear, I would guess some PL maybe too.

Same goes for a lot of businesses - big & small - all across the world. Nobody will be exempt from this. Even the richer clubs will struggle financially. Makes you wonder what happens to players on big, fat, contracts as they get paid mega-money for doing f**k all for over 12 months. It wouldn't be sustainable, especially if there's no major income streams coming in.

 

[spiriticon]

Oh come on, that's ridiculous. Normal life will resume rather sooner than later. It won't be with fans in attendance but there'll most definitely be football played again in 2020.

For the Premier League sure, but I'm not sure the lower league clubs can keep on going without crowds for a year. Where is their income coming from to sustain their daily operations?

In any case, BCD matches are shite and they'll only be doing it because of the TV money.

 

[EwanI Ted]

I don't see them ditching cups, not with the revenues it brings in.

If the alternative is running out of time to finish the league, do they have a choice?

 

[Pexbo]

Oh come on, that's ridiculous. Normal life will resume rather sooner than later. It won't be with fans in attendance but there'll most definitely be football played again in 2020.

If you think it’s ridiculous you haven’t been paying attention. The logistics of playing football even BCD is a huge stretch.


What medical staff will be required and why should they be at a football match and not on the front lines in hospital?
Social distancing will remain important in the fight against the virus until we have a vaccine or an effective treatment, why will Footballers be expected to break that?
What limit will be imposed for public gatherings and will a skeleton staff of football staff break that even without crowds?
Will insurance companies cover teams for CV and if not will players even be allowed to play?
Will clubs be able to afford to play BCD when you consider the overheads and player bonuses?
Have any players returned to their home country that will be unable to travel back to the UK for matches?

Just a few off the top of my head. When restrictions relax in a few weeks or months time, it won’t be back to normal. It will still be under restrictions and it’s expected that a second wave will follow, Football will be one of the last things to come back.

 

[RobinLFC]

If you think it’s ridiculous you haven’t been paying attention. The logistics of playing football even BCD is a huge stretch.


What medical staff will be required and why should they be at a football match and not on the front lines in hospital? Hospitalizations are already drastically decreasing in multiple countries. If you think that 100% of personnel will still be needed come summer for Covid-19, well, I simply disagree.
Social distancing will remain important in the fight against the virus until we have a vaccine or an effective treatment, why will Footballers be expected to break that? Entertainment is essential to a society, e.g. WWE being allowed to take place in Florida. Not saying it should be immediately (and the WWE reasoning is a horrible idea), but definitely before August 2021 like you suggested.
What limit will be imposed for public gatherings and will a skeleton staff of football staff break that even without crowds? The same restrictions as pubs and restaurants will be imposing, regardless of whether there's a football game going on inside said pubs or not.
Will insurance companies cover teams for CV and if not will players even be allowed to play? Yes.
Will clubs be able to afford to play BCD when you consider the overheads and player bonuses? Will clubs be able to afford paying their players their wages if they don't have any activities at all until August 2021?
Have any players returned to their home country that will be unable to travel back to the UK for matches? Yes.

Just a few off the top of my head. When restrictions relax in a few weeks or months time, it won’t be back to normal. It will still be under restrictions and it’s expected that a second wave will follow, Football will be one of the last things to come back.

Thinking there won't be any football until August 2021 is unrealistic. And it won't happen. You hadn't even heard of Covid-19 four months ago and now you're trying to predict what the future will look like for a period up till 16 months. None of us know anything right now, but it will be back before August 2021.

 

[Dancfc]

Yep. It's going to be hard enough to organise a 38 game league season. It seems to me that the sensible and ethical thing to do would be to keep next season as simple as possible and to keep the spirit of the game alive as best they can. No travelling around the world for games, no extra cups and replays. FA cup and the league would surely be more than enough to keep things going.

If there is no Europe next season then the only thing you need to worry about now is pissing off promotion placed teams, and Liverpool obviously.

Of course it won't happen because football is not football, football is money, and money is everything. Stripping the game down, even for a single season, would not kill football but the financially interested will tell you that it would, because they don't really care about football and they don't really care about health and safety on the whole.

I think if the CL have to scrap it for one season they will make up for it by going big the next. 64 teams, 16 groups with every team that's qualifies this season and next in, plus the highest ranked teams that didn't to make the numbers up.

And unlike most of the complications sorting out the PL this is very much dooable, infact there's no complications to it atall, they won't even need any more matchday slots.

 

[Sandikan]

It makes great sense to scrap Europe for one season. It takes away a big issue of how to decide qualifiers and bypasses the very obvious issue that. international travel should be limited to the essential for the forseeable.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

It makes great sense to scrap Europe for one season. It takes away a big issue of how to decide qualifiers and bypasses the very obvious issue that. international travel should be limited to the essential for the forseeable.

That's not going to happen, man.

Many countries have tourism as their lifeblood. If they close borders longer than X amount of time, their country will be decimated. There's many countries out there that will open themselves to tourism the split second they feel it's viable - and people will go, if it's considered relatively safe. For those countries, the foreseeable won't last very long. We are in our peak at the moment, and our borders aren't even closed. There ARE passenger flights arriving, however few they may be, they are happening. Same goes for other countries. Give it 2-3 months and those numbers will be much, much greater. Life will go on as soon as it can.

 

[Rooney24]

Thinking there won't be any football until August 2021 is unrealistic. And it won't happen. You hadn't even heard of Covid-19 four months ago and now you're trying to predict what the future will look like for a period up till 16 months. None of us know anything right now, but it will be back before August 2021.

A contradiction in itself right there.

 

[RobinLFC]

A contradiction in itself right there.

That's my prediction, obviously. Didn't think I have to put "imo" after every sentence.

 

[cyberman]

That's not going to happen, man.

Many countries have tourism as their lifeblood. If they close borders longer than X amount of time, their country will be decimated. There's many countries out there that will open themselves to tourism the split second they feel it's viable - and people will go, if it's considered relatively safe. For those countries, the foreseeable won't last very long. We are in our peak at the moment, and our borders aren't even closed. There ARE passenger flights arriving, however few they may be, they are happening. Same goes for other countries. Give it 2-3 months and those numbers will be much, much greater. Life will go on as soon as it can.

Nobody will travel to Corona hot countries which will happen if borders are opened like this. Italy was such a problem because of the tourists coning from that region.
Theres a reality we have to live in until a vaccine is found and trying to get back to normal which would set us back ito square 1 isnt it.
Even Trump was talking abouy shutting State borders last night.
Social distancing etc are too ingrained in us for us to ignore them for a holiday. There are no greater numbers to be found

 

[Pexbo]

Thinking there won't be any football until August 2021 is unrealistic. And it won't happen. You hadn't even heard of Covid-19 four months ago and now you're trying to predict what the future will look like for a period up till 16 months. None of us know anything right now, but it will be back before August 2021.

What a daft premise. We didn’t know anything about it then, but we have learnt a lot since.

I suggest reading through the current affairs thread and getting up to date on the measures countries are expected to take. The world has changed, it’s going to be a long long time before we return to any semblance of what was normal before all this. Football is a part of that.

 

[Sandikan]

That's not going to happen, man.

Many countries have tourism as their lifeblood. If they close borders longer than X amount of time, their country will be decimated. There's many countries out there that will open themselves to tourism the split second they feel it's viable - and people will go, if it's considered relatively safe. For those countries, the foreseeable won't last very long. We are in our peak at the moment, and our borders aren't even closed. There ARE passenger flights arriving, however few they may be, they are happening. Same goes for other countries. Give it 2-3 months and those numbers will be much, much greater. Life will go on as soon as it can.

Well i hope you're right of course.
But the knock on effects will last for a long time..tourism will take a huge smash

 

[RobinLFC]

What a daft premise. We didn’t know anything about it then, but we have learnt a lot since.

I suggest reading through the current affairs thread and getting up to date on the measures countries are expected to take. The world has changed, it’s going to be a long long time before we return to any semblance of what was normal before all this. Football is a part of that.

That thread is full of people just like you and me who don't have a clue how the world will look like 3 months time, let alone in 2021. Looking at countries taking measures, the Bundesliga is already in talks with the government after they banned public events until 31 August, because their BCD football proposal wouldn't fall under that. Yet you are here suggesting we won't have football until August 2021 when most leagues are already thinking about restarting asap. Just not very realistic, is my opinion.

It's not even gonna be just "a long time" before we return to what was normal like you say - we might never get back to that point. But we will adapt, find solutions, and life will return to "normalcy" as much as possible. Football is also a part of that.

 

[UncleBob]

when most leagues are already thinking about restarting asap.

The as soon as possible bit seems to be the problem..

 

[Pav1878]

I have been told by friends who are doctors on the frontline that they are being readied for another lockdown in September so I don't think playing out the season or starting a new one etc is going to be in very straight forward.

 

[Random Task]

The Scottish Championship, Scottish League 1 and League tow have been declared as finished. The Champions have been declared on the current Standings.

Partick Thistle who were Bottom but 2 Points from safety with a game in Hand will be relegated. Very harsh.

Interesting to see how that one Plays out.

Astounding decision.

 

[Random Task]

There is also talk about a general consensus that the PL should be given to Liverpool seeing how far ahead they are in the league.
Saw this on Twitter.

It's highly unlikely the FA will even consider this as a viable option. They'd be risking an uproar, not to mention the legal implications.

 

[philipos]

I have been told by friends who are doctors on the frontline that they are being readied for another lockdown in September so I don't think playing out the season or starting a new one etc is going to be in very straight forward.

A friend of mine in the police says they are planning for another spike in deaths in October.

 

[SportingCP96]

I wonder if when all is said and done the transfer market goes back to normality because if all the financial Implications this is causing many clubs.

 

[spiriticon]

I wonder if when all is said and done the transfer market goes back to normality because if all the financial Implications this is causing many clubs.

There'll surely be a massive drop in transfer fees. Probably back to the days where £80 million will get you prime Cristiano. Maybe even the Zidane for £60 million era.

 

[Snafu17]

For all the "football won't start until 2021" talk, Taiwan, a country with one of the best responses to the pandemic, just started their Premier League a week ago. So you know, it's possible.

 

[spiriticon]

For all the "football won't start until 2021" talk, Taiwan, a country with one of the best responses to the pandemic, just started their Premier League a week ago. So you know, it's possible.

It's definitely possible if we have a competent government, like Germany.

Unfortunately for us (and English football), we don't have that competency up top. It's all opinions but I'd say we probably have one of the worst responses to the pandemic.

 

[Judas]

For all the "football won't start until 2021" talk, Taiwan, a country with one of the best responses to the pandemic, just started their Premier League a week ago. So you know, it's possible.

Kind of answered why it's possible there and not possible here though, haven't you? Our response has been awful, thus we're in for a long wait.

 

[Snafu17]

Kind of answered why it's possible there and not possible here though, haven't you? Our response has been awful, thus we're in for a long wait.

There's about 8 months of spare time to get your shit together and you'd imagine that the UK will take it more seriously the second time around.

Point is, a country that apparently knows what it's doing, deems it safe to play to football BCD, despite the social distancing measures.

 

[Greck]

That's clearly not a question. If it were, then prepare for a decade without football.

I know, the leagues have to face the reality of the season coexisting with the pandemic. Cancelling subsequent seasons will not be ideal. The next 3 months needs to be spent writing flexibility clauses into contracts and planning contingency measures so future seasons can survive suspensions like this

 

[Toni's Left Foot]

Can you say that again but in a softer, slower voice?

Of course Liverpool should be awarded the title. The fact that it will forever be tainted is irrelevant to my opinion.

 

[Dumbstar]

A friend of mine in the police says they are planning for another spike in deaths in October.

There will be another spike for sure. But this time we'll be more prepared right? (Remdivisir and plasma replacement treatment properly trialled and produced en masse, more PPE, 100% more experienced medical staff in covid, doctor's from other countries called over that are less affected (China, Singapore, etc)). Most importantly, this time we won't be cocky about it.

Thought of some more: more herd immunity, even if it's only 25% of the population. Less elderly impact this time, sadly.

 

[Dave Smith]

There will be another spike for sure. But this time we'll be more prepared right? (Remdivisir and plasma replacement treatment properly trialled and produced en masse, more PPE, 100% more experienced medical staff in covid, doctor's from other countries called over that are less affected (China, Singapore, etc)). Most importantly, this time we won't be cocky about it.

Agreed. I think a lot of what is going on at the moment is trying to protect the NHS and get it prepared as, lets face it, it was in absolutely no position to deal with such a situation. So, what this lockdown is being used for is to get the emergency planning in place. At some point as a society we're going to have to bite a bullet and get back to work. Keep the vulnerable and old at home/isolated but everyone else will need to get to work. If not the economic pain will end up being even more catastrophic than the Covid situation.

 

[Suedesi]

The second UEFA announce no European competitions next year that number will jump i think

Haven't kept up with the news - is that on the table? What are the pros / cons?

 

[christinaa]

Can you say that again but in a softer, slower voice?

You're always such a Star with your comments in the UNITED forum but unfortunately you're a DUMB STAR.

 

[Tel074]

Oh come on, that's ridiculous. Normal life will resume rather sooner than later. It won't be with fans in attendance but there'll most definitely be football played again in 2020.

It may be ridiculous to you but it isn't to some others and he might not be a million miles away from that prediction. I've been told by people I know running similar businesses to my own that schools etc may not resume until the end of October this year and bars and restaurants may only be allowed to open when a vaccine is available. It's all up in the air but I wouldn't say anyone's opinion is ridiculous because 3 months ago I would have told anyone telling me we would be in the middle of a lockdown that they where being ridiculous

 

[tenpoless]

You're always such a Star with your comments in the UNITED forum but unfortunately you're a DUMB STAR.

 

[Dave Smith]

It may be ridiculous to you but it isn't to some others and he might not be a million miles away from that prediction. I've been told by people I know running similar businesses to my own that schools etc may not resume until the end of October this year and bars and restaurants may only be allowed to open when a vaccine is available. It's all up in the air but I wouldn't say anyone's opinion is ridiculous because 3 months ago I would have told anyone telling me we would be in the middle of a lockdown that they where being ridiculous

If they extend the lockdown to October then the Covid situation will be the least of our problems. The economy will be absolutely annihilated.

 

[Dumbstar]

You're always such a Star with your comments in the UNITED forum but unfortunately you're a DUMB STAR.

 

[Suedesi]

That's not going to happen, man.

Many countries have tourism as their lifeblood. If they close borders longer than X amount of time, their country will be decimated. There's many countries out there that will open themselves to tourism the split second they feel it's viable - and people will go, if it's considered relatively safe. For those countries, the foreseeable won't last very long. We are in our peak at the moment, and our borders aren't even closed. There ARE passenger flights arriving, however few they may be, they are happening. Same goes for other countries. Give it 2-3 months and those numbers will be much, much greater. Life will go on as soon as it can.

Who the feck will risk going to another (less developed) country and risk contracting coronavirus abroad? To not mention disposable income will have presumably taken a hit due to the crisis. Don't see Americans, Germans, Scandies, Brits invading the Caribbean, Southern Spain, Italy Cyprus anytime soon. Tough luck

 

[Suedesi]

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/04/anthony-fauci-on-new-rules-of-living-with-coronavirus

Baseball? Coachella? Handshakes? Tinder? Anthony Fauci on the New Rules of Living With Coronavirus

I just have a couple of more lifestyle questions, then I’ll let you go. People are still holding out hope for some kind of abbreviated baseball season this summer, college football will start in late August. NFL right after that. Do you think those sports seasons are in jeopardy? Are we going to have college football this fall?

You know, to be honest with you, Peter, I don’t know. I really don’t. And it’s sort of along the same line as the question you asked about the schools. It’s really going to depend on what actually evolves over the next couple of months. You know, regarding sports, I believe, and I think this is going to be implemented by the initiation and the initiative of the people who own these clubs. If you could get on television, Major League Baseball, to start July 4. Let’s say, nobody comes to the stadium. You just, you do it. I mean people say, “Well you can’t play without spectators.” Well, I think you’d probably get enough buy-in from people who are dying to see a baseball game. Particularly me. I’m living in Washington. We have the World Champion Washington Nationals. You know, I want to see them play again. But there’s a way of doing that because there have been some proposals both at the level of the NFL, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, to get these people tested, and to put them in big hotels, you know, wherever you want to play. Keep them very well surveilled, namely a surveillance, but have them tested, like every week. By a gazillion tests. And make sure they don’t wind up infecting each other or their family. And just let them play the season out. I mean, that’s a really artificial way to do it, but when you think about it, it might be better than nothing.


This could possibly work for soccer as well

 

[christinaa]

 

[Pexbo]

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/04/anthony-fauci-on-new-rules-of-living-with-coronavirus

Baseball? Coachella? Handshakes? Tinder? Anthony Fauci on the New Rules of Living With Coronavirus

I just have a couple of more lifestyle questions, then I’ll let you go. People are still holding out hope for some kind of abbreviated baseball season this summer, college football will start in late August. NFL right after that. Do you think those sports seasons are in jeopardy? Are we going to have college football this fall?

You know, to be honest with you, Peter, I don’t know. I really don’t. And it’s sort of along the same line as the question you asked about the schools. It’s really going to depend on what actually evolves over the next couple of months. You know, regarding sports, I believe, and I think this is going to be implemented by the initiation and the initiative of the people who own these clubs. If you could get on television, Major League Baseball, to start July 4. Let’s say, nobody comes to the stadium. You just, you do it. I mean people say, “Well you can’t play without spectators.” Well, I think you’d probably get enough buy-in from people who are dying to see a baseball game. Particularly me. I’m living in Washington. We have the World Champion Washington Nationals. You know, I want to see them play again. But there’s a way of doing that because there have been some proposals both at the level of the NFL, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, to get these people tested, and to put them in big hotels, you know, wherever you want to play. Keep them very well surveilled, namely a surveillance, but have them tested, like every week. By a gazillion tests. And make sure they don’t wind up infecting each other or their family. And just let them play the season out. I mean, that’s a really artificial way to do it, but when you think about it, it might be better than nothing.


This could possibly work for soccer as well

This can only work in the UK when we have enough testing capacity for essential workers first.

The idea that football clubs could be tested weekly when others are still waiting in line would not go down well at all.