Coronavirus and Football (Plus all Sport in General)

[McDermotX]

Null and Voiders are crying in the corner

[marcus50bucks]

Liverpool home games could be at neutral grounds with Premier League to return on June 17

Matt Lawton, Martyn Ziegler
Thursday May 28 2020, 3.30pm,
The Times

Liverpool are likely to have to play their remaining home fixtures at neutral venues when the Premier League resumes next month, The Times can reveal.

The Premier League clubs yesterday agreed to resume the season behind closed doors on Wednesday June 17 with Manchester City v Arsenal and Aston Villa v Sheffield United the first matches since football was shutdown on March 13.

The authorities are concerned that “key matches” — such as those involving league leaders Liverpool and London derbies — might lead to supporters congregating outside stadiums in breach of social distancing guidelines.

Jurgen Klopp’s team are on the brink of securing their first league title for 30 years but, under one proposal discussed by clubs yesterday, would have to play their four remaining home games away from Anfield. The main London derbies would also be played at neutral grounds.

Liverpool’s first match is due to be against Everton at Goodison Park but that could also be moved to a neutral venue.

The proposals discussed yesterday will be voted on at another shareholders’ meeting on June 4. They include:

- Unweighted points-per-game would be used to determine the final table should the remaining 92 matches fail to be completed. That would see Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich City relegated to the Championship.

- The £340million rebate owed to broadcasters would fall to £170million should all the matches be completed by August 2. There would be nothing to pay next season, with the outstanding debt repaid over the two seasons that follow.

- The amount each club will have to pay will be determined by their final league placing.

Manchester City v Arsenal and Aston Villa v Sheffield United are fixtures that were rearranged. Playing these games first would mean all 20 clubs would go into the following weekend having played 29 matches, therefore reducing the risk of further complications should the season still need to be curtailed because of coronavirus.

The weekend of June 20-21 is now the favoured start date for the remaining matches, with matches being played over seven weekends with two rounds of midweek fixtures. With clubs now returning to full contact training, there is expected to be little opposition to the proposal for the two games on June 17.

The Times understands the broadcasters have also been made aware of the plan.

Matches in the Championship which are deemed “high risk” because they might attract large gatherings outside stadiums may be also played in neutral venues.

Insiders say it is hoped that the use of neutral grounds would only be for a “very few” games but that it could be an option to be called on if necessary. Any decision would be taken jointly by the club involved, the local Safety Advisory Group and the police.

The matches most likely to be viewed as high risk are those involving Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion, given that both have large followings and are leading the promotion race.

Leeds have an average attendance of more than 35,000 and West Brom more than 24,000 this season, however both are confident that their local authorities would support their measures to play all home matches at their own stadiums.

A plan of action would be put in place to persuade fans not to turn up outside the stadiums, including that to do so could jeopardise their chances of promotion.

League One and League Two are expected not to restart their seasons, and the EFL has proposed the tables are decided by points per game.

An EFL clubs’ vote on the outcome of the divisions is to take place next week with the outcome known either by next Friday or the start of the following week.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/l..._content=22278

Absolute disgrace that Liverpool have been singled out. All our home games will be at a neutral ground. The same with London Derbies. Why the assumption our fans won't behave?

[labourRed]

I'm going to assume the rationale is because we're the most likely to win the title and thus give the fans more of a reason to celebrate with the players.

[marcus50bucks]

You can't have one rule for one and another rule for everyone else. It should be a level playing field. I hope we challenge this.

[Liverpool]

I think its sensible tbh for any potential league winning game and we are so far in front it wont matter. I reckon after its won we should be allowed back to Anfield.

[Exiled_red]

I'm going to assume the rationale is because we're the most likely to win the title and thus give the fans more of a reason to celebrate with the players.

I understand that, but similarly you could make the argument that the sides that stay up on the last day of the season their fans could celebrate, so those games should be played at a neutral venue, and we know how well that would go down

[dom9]

I really hope our first game isn't on the Friday, after a City loss against Arsenal.

It could be our first title in 30 years.... On my wife's birthday.

It's gonna happen isn't it.

[dom9]

I think its sensible tbh for any potential league winning game and we are so far in front it wont matter. I reckon after its won we should be allowed back to Anfield.

Yeah there's a thousand more things to get angry about atm than which empty stadium we play a football game in.

Interesting that the away teams have done pretty well so far in the Bundesliga so far.

[Exiled_red]

Yeah there's a thousand more things to get angry about atm than which empty stadium we play a football game in.

Interesting that the away teams have done pretty well so far in the Bundesliga so far.

I don't think it's that surprising to be honest, if you remove the fans you remove a significant part of the home advantage.

[Chris]

Absolute disgrace that Liverpool have been singled out. All our home games will be at a neutral ground. The same with London Derbies. Why the assumption our fans won't behave?

Yeah it’s bull****, sick of our fan base being used to highlight supposed security fears too. Football supporters are treated pretty appallingly in this country and this is no different.

We’ve got massive support everywhere anyway, so it hardly rules out gatherings if it’s taken out of the city.

[marcus50bucks]

Yeah it’s bull****, sick of our fan base being used to highlight supposed security fears too. Football supporters are treated pretty appallingly in this country and this is no different.

We’ve got massive support everywhere anyway, so it hardly rules out gatherings if it’s taken out of the city.

Totally agree with you mate. It's a nonsense.

[Norbs]

Yeah it’s bull****, sick of our fan base being used to highlight supposed security fears too. Football supporters are treated pretty appallingly in this country and this is no different.

We’ve got massive support everywhere anyway, so it hardly rules out gatherings if it’s taken out of the city.

Keeping my fingers crossed our games are at Isthmian side Whyteleafe FC

[marcus50bucks]

[ame="https://twitter.com/JamesPearceLFC/status/1266070326477295624"]https://twitter.com/JamesPearceLFC/status/1266070326477295624[/ame]

[fah-q]

As long as we win 2 of the next 9 games I couldn't care less if they played it on the deck of the QE2

[dom9]

Probably one for the joke thread. Well it tickled me at least.


[ame]https://twitter.com/MarshInsight/status/1266057960616275968[/ame]