Coronavirus and Football (Plus all Sport in General)

[Exiled_red]

Can't see next season being a full season. They should be planning it as a potential write off now instead of rushing to start it as normal. Even if that means something radical like a one-off regionalised competition. 2 divisions of 10 home and away would give 18 games. No league cup. Build slack in for delays and add addition extras at the end eg 1st in north v 1st in south or sound kind of play off system like in the Indian Premier League (cricket). Then if no delays and if there is still time play the league cup over a few weeks at the end of the syste,

There is so many solutions but as noted by someone earlier i nthe thread football is fixated on its traditional calendar and that is causing problems

I think that the sensible thing to to would be to cancel next season entirely, resume this season late 2020 or early 2021 and finish the season a bit earlier than next season would normally have finished. If it is possible for the Euros to go ahead then you have a gap after the domestic season to finish qualifying and for international sides to play some warm up games ahead of it. This ensures sporting integrity by finishing the season, cancelling a season that hasn't started yet isn't a problem, but more importantly ensures the safety of players.

The big concern about the currently plan is what happens if a few players get it, aside from the obvious health concerns for them what is the expectation for their team and the competition? does it carry on and the team plays without them? Can the team postpone it's fixtures while they are isolating, does the competition stop for a while? As far as I can see the plan seems to assume that the players will be tested and none will get it.

The other (lesser) concern comes from playing games behind closed doors are players going to be as motivated to put the same amount of effort in to behind closed doors games, without the fans there the game won't be the same, what will this done for an extend period of time such as the remaining 9 games for each side?

If somehow this season is able to be finished by August and next season starts Sept there needs to be a clear plan as to how the league will be resolved in the event of a second wave or whatever and what are the priorities? Would finishing the season be a priority or would playing the Euros be priority? I know what my answer would be but I can see UEFA being reluctant to cancel the Euros, so there are decisions to be made there. Outside of UEFA there are things like the ACN due to be played in January and WC qualifiers which would have been due to start in Sept(?), even if the domestic game is back by September is travel and bringing together international squads from different countries for international games not even more risky?

[Exiled_red]

Adrian Bevington (former FA Executive) is on, BBC now has said that there is a commitment to finish season, but if for any reason the season can't be finished there is a strong view that it would be unfair to relegate teams based on an incomplete season, and similarly to deny sides promotion, so he is of the view that in that event the PL might be expanded to 22 teams (current 20 plus 2 automatic promotion spots), with adjustments made to FA Cup, league Cup and scheduling of games to accommodate extra PL fixtures

He was also saying the 10 grounds selected as a neutral grounds will be those which are furthest from people's homes such as Brighton, Man City etc

[fah-q]

He was also saying the 10 grounds selected as a neutral grounds will be those which are furthest from people's homes such as Brighton, Man City etc

Stadiums used to having no fans in presumably?

[Norbs]

Should use 3g pitches to lessen the chance of injury. Pitches will be hard by June.

[labourRed]

I think that the sensible thing to to would be to cancel next season entirely, resume this season late 2020 or early 2021 and finish the season a bit earlier than next season would normally have finished. If it is possible for the Euros to go ahead then you have a gap after the domestic season to finish qualifying and for international sides to play some warm up games ahead of it. This ensures sporting integrity by finishing the season, cancelling a season that hasn't started yet isn't a problem, but more importantly ensures the safety of players.

The big concern about the currently plan is what happens if a few players get it, aside from the obvious health concerns for them what is the expectation for their team and the competition? does it carry on and the team plays without them? Can the team postpone it's fixtures while they are isolating, does the competition stop for a while? As far as I can see the plan seems to assume that the players will be tested and none will get it.

The other (lesser) concern comes from playing games behind closed doors are players going to be as motivated to put the same amount of effort in to behind closed doors games, without the fans there the game won't be the same, what will this done for an extend period of time such as the remaining 9 games for each side?

If somehow this season is able to be finished by August and next season starts Sept there needs to be a clear plan as to how the league will be resolved in the event of a second wave or whatever and what are the priorities? Would finishing the season be a priority or would playing the Euros be priority? I know what my answer would be but I can see UEFA being reluctant to cancel the Euros, so there are decisions to be made there. Outside of UEFA there are things like the ACN due to be played in January and WC qualifiers which would have been due to start in Sept(?), even if the domestic game is back by September is travel and bringing together international squads from different countries for international games not even more risky?

The problem with this approach is clubs have about a 60% outlay of turnover on wages. If they're lucky. Govt furlough won't help footballers.

They're also looking at a massive reduction in income over the next few years at least.

So to not have a season next year would probably be the death of many football clubs.

Government realise the morale impact of sport so they'll bend over backwards but even then there are difficult hurdles to face.

[Exiled_red]

The problem with this approach is clubs have about a 60% outlay of turnover on wages. If they're lucky. Govt furlough won't help footballers.

They're also looking at a massive reduction in income over the next few years at least.

So to not have a season next year would probably be the death of many football clubs.

Government realise the morale impact of sport so they'll bend over backwards but even then there are difficult hurdles to face.

There are two issues here IMO the PL clubs get about half of their money from TV revenue where as the lower league clubs rely on matchday revenue.

The lower leagues are the clubs that are most likely to go bust, because their revenue streams are more or less closed off if fans can't attend games. Yes they have to pay the wages of players but if the games are going ahead there are extra costs associated with running the games, does running these games behind closed doors make the financial situation better or worse for them?

The PL as I say is different because of the large TV revenue which for most clubs is their major source of income. Obviously the wages there are larger here too, if this season isn't finished clubs lose out on a lot of money, presumably the same is true if next season, the (financial) issue here is would it be better for one season to be finished and one cancelled, two seasons cancelled part way through, or one season finished and the other not started. I honestly don't know in the case of the PL, there has been talk of clubs losing £1bn if this season isn't finished I don't know what percentage of their revenue this would represent in comparison to next season being played behind closed doors etc. I honestly don't know enough about the likely financial implications of all the likely scenarios.

[Kenneth]

Still don't get why they didn't carry on playing behind closed doors.

[Charly]

Thing is, people are still going to be at risk unless we 100% lock down for another 18 months or so it will take to develop and distribute a vaxine that is effective.

Football as an industry cannot survive that long. Will the risk restarting be greater now, or in a month, or in six months? Will footballers be willing to be furloughed, as at the moment it seems like most are still being paid.

Regardless of what happenes, the people at most risk are still going to be at risk until we have a vaxine.

I dont think anyone has an answer as nobody really knows for sure. I think people see the risks differently based upon their own circumstances. Some footballers might not be comfortable with it if they live with someone who is vulnerable.

[Alex]

Still don't get why they didn't carry on playing behind closed doors.

It was new, players were catching it, wiping out chunks of the squad. I guess if this had been planned out before, it could have been managed a lot better. But remembering early March. People were scared how quick it was all moving. The moment Arteta got it, was basically the moment football shut down here.


I’d also say rightly so, as it could have taken valuable medical personnel away from front long services at the time. Seems less pressure on that now though, and testing seems a lot easier.

[rodo]

[ame]https://twitter.com/RichardBuxton_/status/1256620074439520257[/ame]

[ChesterDave]

IT's ON!

[Liverpool]

that legit then? the kit sponsor makes it look so.

9pm is a bit late for most folk? Fine with me I was worried it would on too early and i'd have to get up earlier to finish work.

6 and half 8 each weeknight.

2 and 5 on the weekend.

[rodo]

that legit then? the kit sponsor makes it look so.

9pm is a bit late for most folk? Fine with me I was worried it would on too early and i'd have to get up earlier to finish work.

6 and half 8 each weeknight.

2 and 5 on the weekend.

not sure what time standard chartered would use on there social media account as they arent a british company are they?

[Phoenix07]

This is brilliant from The True Geordie on all of this.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fjoP17GtpE"]The Return Of The Premier League - YouTube[/ame]

[Mark79]

not sure what time standard chartered would use on there social media account as they arent a british company are they?

Standard Chartered are British and their headquarters are in London, but they don’t have retail branches in the UK.