Which is fairer? Coronavirus implications

[Phantom]

To me the least problematic, is voiding the season and act like it did not happen. Sure it isn't perfect but I would have thought from a legal perspective it is the most straight forward. The moment you start picking and choosing what different solutions to various issues you will use, you are introducing discretion which then is much more easily challenged in court.

There are currently 3 teams with 27 points in the relegation fight and one team with a game in hand who could move clear if they were to win it. Some teams have benefited from playing more home games than others and some have played less challenging opposition etc. I just honestly do not think there is an objective and fair solution other than voiding the season.

In the current situation it really is not worth the risk restarting the season. It sends all the wrong messages whilst also potentially increasing the risk for those involved and anyone they come in to contact with.

 

[Gbspurs]

To me the least problematic, is voiding the season and act like it did not happen. Sure it isn't perfect but I would have thought from a legal perspective it is the most straight forward. The moment you start picking and choosing what different solutions to various issues you will use, you are introducing discretion which then is much more easily challenged in court.

There are currently 3 teams with 27 points in the relegation fight and one team with a game in hand who could move clear if they were to win it. Some teams have benefited from playing more home games than others and some have played less challenging opposition etc. I just honestly do not think there is an objective and fair solution other than voiding the season.

In the current situation it really is not worth the risk restarting the season. It sends all the wrong messages whilst also potentially increasing the risk for those involved and anyone they come in to contact with.

I'd like to see some stats based on the season ending at the same time for the last 5 years. I wonder how many teams would have been relegated if the season had ended who eventually survived.

 

[Phantom]

I'd like to see some stats based on the season ending at the same time for the last 5 years. I wonder how many teams would have been relegated if the season had ended who eventually survived.

Leicester are relegated the season before they win the league

 

[rossdapep]

I'd like to see some stats based on the season ending at the same time for the last 5 years. I wonder how many teams would have been relegated if the season had ended who eventually survived.

Going back a further than what you suggested but Sunderland would have been relegated in about three of the seasons. Although they eventually succumbed anyway.

You can't relegate teams based on anything other than the completion of 38 games. Even a team who appear to be doomed (Leicester example as @Phantom noted)

 

[Phantom]

	14/15	15/16	16/17	17/18	18/19
29 games bottom 3	Burnley	Newcastle	Hull	Palace	Cardiff
	QPR	Norwich	Middlesbrough	Stoke City	Fulham
	Leicester	Aston Villa	Sunderland	West Brom	Huddersfield
Full season	Hull	Norwich	Hull	Swansea	Cardiff
	Burnley	Aston Villa	Middlesbrough	Stoke City	Fulham
	QPR	Newcastle	Sunderland	West brom	Huddersfield

Not a huge disparity but still in 2 out of the last 5 seasons it would have made a difference, if you count the repercussions for the following year as well then .....well you need a man less lazy than I to look at it but clearly Leicester being relegated in 14/15 would have been huge for the following year. Did not bother with the top 4 etc either, maybe if I am less tired!

 

[Danners9]

Indeed,

France - Declared champions, relegation and promotion awarded, European places based on current positions (PPG)

Lyon are going to appeal over missing out on a European spot and both Amiens and Toulouse are going to appeal over being relegated.

PSG 12pts clear with a game in hand over Marseille.
Lyon 7th on 40pts, same as Montpellier and Monaco. Nice and Reims 5th/6th on 41pts.
Toulouse 14pts from safety with a -36 GD. Amiens 10pts ahead of Toulouse and 4pts from safety.

10 games to go, 11 in PSGs case (game in hand vs 10th place Strasbourg).

Basically no team involved in a tight battle is happy.
Toulouse weren't mathematically down but it was looking likely, barring some miraculous recovery.

Ligue 2 also very tight. Lorient (54pts) promoted as champs, Lens (53pts) in 2nd also promoted. Then 3rd on 52, 4th on 51 and 5th on 50 miss out. You'd imagine they would be gutted too. At least they had all completed 28 games.

Bold decision to decide the futures of these clubs when the margins are so close and there are 30pts still to play for.

 

[nailsy]

Any decision about playing games has to put players safety first. I don't see how they can do that. I know many people are returning to work, but there must be an increased risk of catching the virus for anyone playing a contact sport?

Players scared about returning - Aguero

Players are "scared" about the prospect of returning to action amid the coronavirus pandemic, says Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.

www.bbc.com

 

[spursfan77]

Any decision about playing games has to put players safety first. I don't see how they can do that. I know many people are returning to work, but there must be an increased risk of catching the virus for anyone playing a contact sport?

Players scared about returning - Aguero

Players are "scared" about the prospect of returning to action amid the coronavirus pandemic, says Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.

www.bbc.com

I read a report yesterday which said players won’t be forced to play.

Also what if one player tests positive. Does the whole thing stop or does that player just miss out.

So many questions. No decisions to be made today though apparently.

 

[nailsy]

I read a report yesterday which said players won’t be forced to play.

Also what if one player tests positive. Does the whole thing stop or does that player just miss out.

So many questions. No decisions to be made today though apparently.

It would be a brave player to refuse to play. They would be all over the media straight away if it got out. I'm sure there are players who live with vulnerable people who shouldn't be playing though.

If a player tests positive then I would expect anyone they've been in contact with in the squad to go into isolation. It could be a case of having to play the U21's if that were to happen.

 

[Gbspurs]

Leicester are relegated the season before they win the league

Wow, that's evidence enough that it shouldn't be an option surely!?

 

[Hazelton]

I would be inclined to merge this season and the next, personally. So a 47/48 game season with a summer and winter break.

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

I would be inclined to merge this season and the next, personally. So a 47/48 game season with a summer and winter break.

I absolutely wouldn't want this to happen.

One of the great things about football is that no matter how terrible a season your team has, "there's always next year". It's sport, a game, and everyone should have the opportunity of a fresh start with a chance of new hope and as far as possible a fair chance every season.

So if this one is buggered, as it is, call it off and give everyone a fair chance when the next one comes around. Don't let this one contaminate the next one.

 

[Sum Monsterism]

So if this one is buggered, as it is, call it off and give everyone a fair chance when the next one comes around. Don't let this one contaminate the next one.

this

 

[sundanceyid10]

I’ve just been reading the restart plans, neutral venues. No crowds. As I’ve said before some teams have played the away fixture, then there home fixture is suddenly played at a neutral venue with no fans. I’m sorry but how can any competition have any semblance of being valid with that, it’s completely F*****. Any results are totally hollow it’s almost a joke.

They can’t call the season with current standings as teams haven’t played the same number of games, even if they had you still have to complete the fixtures with integrity.

All of which is impossible. It needs to be abandoned completely. I don’t really know why people are against it other than the money. The whole season it’s comprised to hell already, Nothing is going to fix it at this point.

If I supported a team that ended up going down at this point I’d be furious. As for the title it would have an * next to it as it is totally messed up at this point.

Just void it and move in.

 

[sundanceyid10]

It would be a brave player to refuse to play. They would be all over the media straight away if it got out. I'm sure there are players who live with vulnerable people who shouldn't be playing though.

If a player tests positive then I would expect anyone they've been in contact with in the squad to go into isolation. It could be a case of having to play the U21's if that were to happen.

The whole thing is a shambles at this point. What has happened is a very rare event, which causes problems at every point for the season when trying to restart. Just void it, not perfect by any means but far better than all the fudge solutions coming out to save a lost and hollow season at this point.

 

[dontcallme]

I’ve just been reading the restart plans, neutral venues. No crowds. As I’ve said before some teams have played the away fixture, then there home fixture is suddenly played at a neutral venue with no fans. I’m sorry but how can any competition have any semblance of being valid with that, it’s completely F*****. Any results are totally hollow it’s almost a joke.

They can’t call the season with current standings as teams haven’t played the same number of games, even if they had you still have to complete the fixtures with integrity.

All of which is impossible. It needs to be abandoned completely. I don’t really know why people are against it other than the money. The whole season it’s comprised to hell already, Nothing is going to fix it at this point.

If I supported a team that ended up going down at this point I’d be furious. As for the title it would have an * next to it as it is totally messed up at this point.

Just void it and move in.

Coronavirus and sports: What happened in April 2020 – DW – 05/01/2020

As the coronavirus pandemic continued to disrupt major sporting events across the globe the Bundesliga made plans to return. There were also major updates in tennis and F1. Here's a recap of how it all unfolded.

www.dw.com

The German Bundesliga was hoping to resume the season by the end of the month. 3 Cologne staff members, 2 thought to be players, have been tested positive for the virus.

Interested to see what Germany do as they seem to be dealing with the virus well but I can't see how resuming the EPL is the right thing to do except for business.

 

[g_harry]

I’ve just been reading the restart plans, neutral venues. No crowds. As I’ve said before some teams have played the away fixture, then there home fixture is suddenly played at a neutral venue with no fans. I’m sorry but how can any competition have any semblance of being valid with that, it’s completely F*****. Any results are totally hollow it’s almost a joke.

They can’t call the season with current standings as teams haven’t played the same number of games, even if they had you still have to complete the fixtures with integrity.

All of which is impossible. It needs to be abandoned completely. I don’t really know why people are against it other than the money. The whole season it’s comprised to hell already, Nothing is going to fix it at this point.

If I supported a team that ended up going down at this point I’d be furious. As for the title it would have an * next to it as it is totally messed up at this point.

Just void it and move in.

Brilliant summary of the current situation.

 

[sundanceyid10]

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...-to-restart-season-at-neutral-venues-11982337

As predicted, Brighton have come out and said what I thought is an obvious problem.

 

[nailsy]

Liverpool silent in Premier League meetings as Spurs 'difficult to interpret'

Football365 - Liverpool 'maintain a Sphinx-like cool' in those weekly Premier League meetings. Tottenham's Daniel Levy is being Daniel Levy.

www.football365.com

This isn't a great article, but I thought this part was interesting..

"three clubs have already rejected the idea of their stadiums being used. Bournemouth, Southampton – whose St Mary’s ground was widely reported to have been chosen – and Watford ‘have all started extensive work on their pitches’ and thus might be out of the running."

Presumably this means that they won't be able to play any home games if they change their mind decide not to use neutral venues. Or they'd need to use their training ground.

 

[noiseboy55]

'Under 45-minute halves an option'

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor says halves of less than 45 minutes are being considered when football resumes.

www.bbc.co.uk

How can you have any integrity of the competition with shorter halves? Neutral venues? Just scrap it FFS It cannot be a fair outcome for teams fighting for their status when the competition suddenly changes like this.