Premier League 'to cancel season' claims club chief amid coronavirus crisis

[CowInAComa]

I know it sounds silly but I’m sure back in the day cup finals etc were decided on the toss of a coin. Why not just have one executive from each club attend and toss a coin with the opposite exec for each remaining game. Liverpool would still win the league, relegation would be fun. Leeds would probably come up. Could even roll a dice and take what you get as a score that way you’ve still got goal difference.

I just cant see a fair way to do it and as stupid an idea as it is this would be pretty fair.

I'd love to see karren Brady getting west ham relegated because she rolled a 1 on a dice live on sky sports.

 

[CowInAComa]

I still don’t think people are getting how much this virus is going to affect us going forward. Football is dead for at least the next 4-6 months. Even behind closed doors you still have the possibility for 28 players running around in close proximity to each other sweat everywhere. China only just easing restrictions for work 4 months after look down. What any FA says publicly will be very different to what is said behind closed doors.

I actually agree with you and it's highly unlikely we get any football until next season is due to kick off at the absolute earliest.

But WWE and UFC are still going so we probably shouldn't underestimate the power of greed.

 

[spursfan77]

Premier League totally dismissed the story as fantasy by the way

It’s no surprise. The original tweet that was picked up on was from some guy with 300 followers on twitter. Very strange how it escalated.

 

[Spursmatty87]

I’d be surprised to see stadium full of fans this calendar year never mind by the start of the season. Also seen that they might play abroad not sure how that could even work when the two places that they’d like to go to would be China or the USA.

 

[mightyspur]

As much as I would like the season to be voided with Pool missing out on the title, I don't really understand why there is a big issue with all this. Why do we have to care about next season, a season that hasn't started yet. Just continue this season whenever the restrictions are lifted, without cup competitions to reduce the schedule whether that is in July or even October. Then see where we are, whether that means taking another break to re-align with the usual schedule, or going straight into the next season.

It'll be strange and unprecedented, but hardly insurmountable

 

[Yid-ol]

As much as I would like the season to be voided with Pool missing out on the title, I don't really understand why there is a big issue with all this. Why do we have to care about next season, a season that hasn't started yet. Just continue this season whenever the restrictions are lifted, without cup competitions to reduce the schedule whether that is in July or even October. Then see where we are, whether that means taking another break to re-align with the usual schedule, or going straight into the next season.

It'll be strange and unprecedented, but hardly insurmountable

Because the money lost from not having a season will drastically out weigh the financial losses of not finishing this season.

Even with the talk of X amount of money needing paid back to sky, the club's would then not get anything from sky for a season, on top of that revenue from match days also.

To me financial for club's it will be worse off to play this season and miss a season and will see more club's fold due to this.

Depending on when they are able to play again, there will be a fixture pile up with having to finish season before the euros with world cup qualifiers also being played, and then the world cup being mid season, so that year leagues starting and finishing a little later already! Just so much to consider and fucking impossible to work out what's best for everyone.

 

[Donki]

I actually agree with you and it's highly unlikely we get any football until next season is due to kick off at the absolute earliest.

But WWE and UFC are still going so we probably shouldn't underestimate the power of greed.

 

[Spurs 1961]

I guess it will come down to choosing the option with the least financial hit, as money is all it's about. So losing sponsors or being sued by big organisations is going to weigh heavily against the vast majority of teams who can't afford to sue them

 

[Trotter]

Because the money lost from not having a season will drastically out weigh the financial losses of not finishing this season.

Even with the talk of X amount of money needing paid back to sky, the club's would then not get anything from sky for a season, on top of that revenue from match days also.

To me financial for club's it will be worse off to play this season and miss a season and will see more club's fold due to this.

Depending on when they are able to play again, there will be a fixture pile up with having to finish season before the euros with world cup qualifiers also being played, and then the world cup being mid season, so that year leagues starting and finishing a little later already! Just so much to consider and fucking impossible to work out what's best for everyone.

But nobody is talking about missing out on a season.

It is about finishing this one (say behind closed doors finishing say August) so the obligations clubs have already been paid for are met,
Open transfer window from close of this season to opening date of next.
Start next season say October, and adjust the calendar (even potentially scrap the cups), maybe even change the 38 game season, to something less (but obviously agreed by all clubs and broadcasters), even potentially have every match on TV, to placate the broadcasters. and meet the quota.
Could potentially not lose any TV or sponsorship money over either season.

 

[Yid-ol]

Just continue this season whenever the restrictions are lifted, without cup competitions to reduce the schedule whether that is in July or even October. Then see where we are, whether that means taking another break to re-align with the usual schedule, or going straight into the next season.

But nobody is talking about missing out on a season.

It is about finishing this one (say behind closed doors finishing say August) so the obligations clubs have already been paid for are met,
Open transfer window from close of this season to opening date of next.
Start next season say October, and adjust the calendar (even potentially scrap the cups), maybe even change the 38 game season, to something less (but obviously agreed by all clubs and broadcasters), even potentially have every match on TV, to placate the broadcasters. and meet the quota.
Could potentially not lose any TV or sponsorship money over either season.

Taking a break to re-align with the usual schedule would imply missing next season after we finish this season (when ever that is) to then get back on track.

So my reply was to someone saying to miss a season.

Scrapping cups is a bad idea, a lot of lower league club's survive on cup money, even if they draw a team a division or two above them.

 

[Hugh DeMann]

That's all true.


Problem is PFA seeing things very differently.

Interesting. So there's a potential battle on the horizon between players and leagues/governing bodies. I can see it from both sides but it could get ugly.

 

[elfy]

But nobody is talking about missing out on a season.

It is about finishing this one (say behind closed doors finishing say August) so the obligations clubs have already been paid for are met,
Open transfer window from close of this season to opening date of next.
Start next season say October, and adjust the calendar (even potentially scrap the cups), maybe even change the 38 game season, to something less (but obviously agreed by all clubs and broadcasters), even potentially have every match on TV, to placate the broadcasters. and meet the quota.
Could potentially not lose any TV or sponsorship money over either season.

That would possibly work for the Premier League, but what about the lower leagues? Where they have a LOT more games to play, they'd have to play 3/4 games a week to finish the season - is that fair? With the effect upon fitness, injuries and the smaller squads in the lower leagues. Does that not mean that the integrity of the league is compromised (games played up to this point would have been played with a full strength team, to get the games played in such a short amount of time would mean playing a second or even third string team - I wouldn't be surprised to see instances where lower league clubs couldnt even field 11 players due to injury or fitness)

What about player contracts? In the lower league a lot of players will have their contracts expire June 30th. What do we do about them? Do we force them to remain at thier clubs until the season is finished? If so, who pays for it? Are we to make cash strapped lower league clubs pay thousands of pounds a week to players that they had not accounted for (at the best of times) for months until the season is finished? What about those that have agreed deals with other clubs?

If we say that contracts expire as usual, what happens to the league clubs that lose most of their squad? A lot of clubs wait until the end of the season to sort renewals as they do not know what league they are playing the following season and as such don't know how much money they will have and what wages it can afford to pay.

For clubs with little riding on the remaining games why would they field a proper team is it's going to cost them thousands when they can field their youth team. Again, you have to consider the integrity of the league - if one team sends out their reserves against a team fighting for promotion, and the latter gain promotion by beating a second string team, is that fair?

Then there is the opposite, what would stop a team close to promotion signing much better (and therefore more expensive) players solely to gain promotion.

Do you say no relegation/promotion to/from the Premier League to counter the problems with the lower leagues? If you do, what is the point in even finishing the season?

There is no possible way to complete the season fairly after June 30th in my opinion. If games can be completed before then in any way then thats sensible, but after the official end of the season I cannot see a way (fairly) around voiding the entire season

 

[chrissivad]

How ever they try and finish off this season there will be a back log of games at some point.

Finish off this season.
2020/21 season
Euro 2020(21)
Olympics 2020(21)
2021/22 season
World Cup 2022

Cutting out Cup games next season will help reduce games, but what about the leams in lower leagues that get a financial boost from a big round game against a PL team.

 

[mightyspur]

Taking a break to re-align with the usual schedule would imply missing next season after we finish this season (when ever that is) to then get back on track.

So my reply was to someone saying to miss a season.

Scrapping cups is a bad idea, a lot of lower league club's survive on cup money, even if they draw a team a division or two above them.

Taking a break OR going straight into the next season. Taking a break is only required if they manage to finish early enough.

You inferred I meant missing a whole season, which isn't what I was implying at all. So next season might start later, so what? We don't have to miss an entire one.

 

[Yid-ol]

Taking a break OR going straight into the next season. Taking a break is only required if they manage to finish early enough.

You inferred I meant missing a whole season, which isn't what I was implying at all. So next season might start later, so what? We don't have to miss an entire one.

I just can't see the games starting soon enough to finish this season before the next season is due to start, so took it as when ever this season finished (even say in 5 months time) to then wait for the next season to start on the correct time.

 

[Trotter]

1 That would possibly work for the Premier League, but what about the lower leagues? Where they have a LOT more games to play, they'd have to play 3/4 games a week to finish the season - is that fair? With the effect upon fitness, injuries and the smaller squads in the lower leagues. Does that not mean that the integrity of the league is compromised (games played up to this point would have been played with a full strength team, to get the games played in such a short amount of time would mean playing a second or even third string team - I wouldn't be surprised to see instances where lower league clubs couldnt even field 11 players due to injury or fitness)

Lower leagues do not have a lot more game to play (Championship has 9, League One 9, League Two 9, National Leagues 9) plus play-offs.
They also do not have Cups or Champions League. Season can be finished for all clubs within about 7, max 8 weeks from re-commencing, with clubs just playing weekend/midweek/weekend for the remainder.
Lower leagues teams in general don't have smaller squads than Premier League teams.
So your integrity point is moot, in fact I believe finishing the season is much more valid for integrity than pretending 75 to 80% of season has not happened.

2 What about player contracts? In the lower league a lot of players will have their contracts expire June 30th. What do we do about them? Do we force them to remain at thier clubs until the season is finished? If so, who pays for it? Are we to make cash strapped lower league clubs pay thousands of pounds a week to players that they had not accounted for (at the best of times) for months until the season is finished? What about those that have agreed deals with other clubs?

Yes FIFA has advised clubs should offer all players whose contracts expire on 30th June, where and when appropriate short-term contracts to finish off the season. It should not affect budget, clubs will have budget for players from July 1 anyway, unless they are planning on going out of business on July 1, and would not be forced to offer all. Players that have agreed deals with other clubs FIFA will not allow to play for new clubs and have suggested (although cannot enforce) those deals are mutually deferred until season is over, at which point FIFA will open the transfer window.

3 If we say that contracts expire as usual, what happens to the league clubs that lose most of their squad? A lot of clubs wait until the end of the season to sort renewals as they do not know what league they are playing the following season and as such don't know how much money they will have and what wages it can afford to pay.

Clubs will not lose most, if any of their, squad, so moot point

4 For clubs with little riding on the remaining games why would they field a proper team is it's going to cost them thousands when they can field their youth team. Again, you have to consider the integrity of the league - if one team sends out their reserves against a team fighting for promotion, and the latter gain promotion by beating a second string team, is that fair?

It won't cost them thousands, clubs have rolling budgets for players, and the lower league clubs who live from hand to mouth, can and should, furlough players to save them costs currently. Players in League 2 and below in general are not on much more than the furlough limits anyway.

5 Then there is the opposite, what would stop a team close to promotion signing much better (and therefore more expensive) players solely to gain promotion.

They cannot sign new players, FIFA have said transfer window will not open until season is finished, and be adjusted to happen between season finishing and next one starting

6 Do you say no relegation/promotion to/from the Premier League to counter the problems with the lower leagues? If you do, what is the point in even finishing the season?

No, you finish the season, promotion/relegation happens

There is no possible way to complete the season fairly after June 30th in my opinion. If games can be completed before then in any way then thats sensible, but after the official end of the season I cannot see a way (fairly) around voiding the entire season

I, the vast majority of clubs (in all divisions), UEFA and FIFA respectfully disagree. It is not perfect the solution they want, but it is hell of a lot better than what you are suggesting from both a financial and sporting perspective. Obviously there comes a cut off point where voiding this season, and taking current standings in all likelihood, becomes the better option for clubs, but that is a few months away yet,

 

[Metalhead]

I guess it will come down to choosing the option with the least financial hit, as money is all it's about. So losing sponsors or being sued by big organisations is going to weigh heavily against the vast majority of teams who can't afford to sue them

Exactly this.

 

[joe_90]

How soon till the first club goes bankrupt and all their players become free agents?? That'll put a spanner in the works!

 

[Trotter]

How soon till the first club goes bankrupt and all their players become free agents?? That'll put a spanner in the works!

First Premier League club, a long way off, they all have borrowing capacities, and benefactors that can pump money in.

Lower league clubs, ones like Southend and Macclesfield that were on the brink anyway, I could see that happening quite soon, although the advance they have received over TV Revenues will help them in short term

 

[millhouse]

As funny as it would be if the season was cancelled and Liverpool didn't win the league. (Oh how I would laugh).

I can think of a billion reasons why it won't be