Coronavirus and Football (Plus all Sport in General)

[Buzzo]

Could they not have the stadiums partially open, say a quarter of the usual attendance? You can sit by people in your household, lower risk groups/households.

Have to wear a mask to and from the ground.

When this first started it was they were thinking about no over 70's. Got to be a happy medium somewhere.

I guess the issue would be getting people in and out of grounds whilst maintaining social distancing. Using toilet facilities. Etc etc.

It all goes back to the Government, and our initial response because we have no idea how many people have it, and no real chance of finding that out. It is impossible to contain.

[Mark79]

Could they not have the stadiums partially open, say a quarter of the usual attendance? You can sit by people in your household, lower risk groups/households.

Have to wear a mask to and from the ground.

When this first started it was they were thinking about no over 70's. Got to be a happy medium somewhere.

No. No chance. Not under the current social distancing measures and not before regular testing is available.

[Liverpool]

Football won't be back for a few months so I'd hope for solutions on testing, tracing, apps etc.

[dom9]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52456304

European leagues have until 25 May to tell Uefa whether they want to complete or cancel their seasons.

Football is suspended in all European countries apart from Belarus because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Premier League has this week stepped up its plans to resume the season in what has been labelled 'Project Restart'.

Arsenal, Tottenham, Brighton and West Ham have opened their training grounds to players for individual work.

The Premier League league is hopeful of a potential 8 June restart and finishing at the end of July to fit in with Uefa's European competition plans. This would require full training to begin by 18 May.

Top-flight clubs will meet on Friday to discuss options for the restart.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said he had been in contact with clubs about restarting the Premier League "as soon as possible".

Professional Footballers' Association deputy chief executive Bobby Barnes said: "We have been assured of the intentions of all that there would be no resumption unless guarantees of safety could be given to the players.

"The overriding principle for all parties is the health and safety of all participants on and off the field, and of course the wider public."

The Scottish Premiership is suspended indefinitely and the season could yet be declared over, a move already taken with the second, third and fourth tiers north of the border.

The Dutch top flight was abandoned on Friday with no promotion or relegation and no champions, while on Monday Belgian clubs postponed a vote on confirming the cancellation of their top flight until next week.

The deadline set by Uefa is referred to in a set of guidelines on 'eligibility principles' for European competitions that the governing body's president and general secretary have sent out to football bodies.

"Given the unforeseen and unprecedented situation [...] national associations and leagues are facing a situation whereby the completion of their domestic competitions may be at risk," they write.

Stakeholders are told they "should be in a position to communicate to Uefa by 25 May the planned restart of their domestic competitions, including the date of restart and the relevant competition format".

It adds: "In the event that a domestic competition is to be prematurely terminated for legitimate reasons […] Uefa would require the national association to explain by 25 May."

Uefa is understood to have set the date because of its next executive committee meeting two days later, when decisions on the restarting of the Champions League and Europa League may be reached. It is viewed as flexible guidance, rather than a rigid deadline.

Last week, after a video call meeting of all 55 national associations, Uefa made clear it wants on-field performance to determine which clubs make up next season's European club competitions, despite the current shutdown.

Uefa urged clubs to "explore all possible options" to finish their seasons.

It accepted that in "special cases" some could be cancelled, but asked authorities to use "a different format" if needed in order for teams to qualify for European competitions.

If league seasons cannot be finished, it said national associations would need to select clubs to qualify for Europe.

Uefa said it could "refuse or evaluate" selected teams if necessary.

[fah-q]

I'm beginning to think they are hoping to use football (And other sports maybe) as some kid of distraction for the general public. Stay indoors and we'll give you something to keep you entertained, step out of line and we'll take it away.

[Shaggy]

****s sake

[ame]https://twitter.com/talksport/status/1255121065690435587[/ame]

[spud_gun]

PSG still to be awarded the title though?

[Chris]

State of the bellends in the replies, the whole country is utterly obsessed with us. Going to make it even sweeter when we get crowned champions, it's like winning it twice.

[Red_Polo]

I think UEFA's hand will be forced in terms of shifting the calendar in some more significant way. The sensible thing to me is to consider next season a wreck and to use that time to finish the current season safely.

[ChesterDave]

If this season is cancelled en-masse and titles not awarded, promotion/relegation not enforced just to enable a more efficient start to next season and next season is interrupted to the point it too needs to be cancelled it will kill the sport. Why would anyone bother paying to watch a spectacle or get emotionally invested in an event that can just be forgotten and ignored part complete?

[Shaggy]

Some clarity.

[ame]https://twitter.com/tomwfootball/status/1255135660974862336[/ame]

[ame]https://twitter.com/tomwfootball/status/1255148248299274247[/ame]

[Mark79]

[ame]https://twitter.com/DaleJohnsonESPN/status/1255143907353956360[/ame]

[ChesterDave]

So the only variation is 18/19 which without checking I guess is the difference between automatic relegation and a play off match with a L2 team?

[Mark79]

Yeah that’s it. Worst option of the 3 though, presumably only there to show they’re considering everything.

[Norbs]

Some doctor has said this season should be ended and the next planned for. Worra cunt