Which is fairer? Coronavirus implications

[Everlasting Seconds]

I believe the PFAs across Europe will push the club's into extending contracts until the final game for each club. Players get their contracts extended, clubs keep their players a bit more.
In legal terms, it would be an extension for a specified period and at worst this situation would be considered force majeure and would allow such a deviation in terms.

The only difficulty is reconciling the domestic cups and European cup matches. Not sure how that could be done other than to cancel the domestic cup competitions to make room in the scheduling and give the qualification slot to the league position

Surely this must be on a voluntary basis between each club and each player? I doubt, although happy to be proven wrong, that each contract has a clause for unilateral (forced) extension in case shit hits the fan.

 

[Locotoro]

Surely this must be on a voluntary basis between each club and each player? I doubt, although happy to be proven wrong, that each contract has a clause for unilateral (forced) extension in case shit hits the fan.

Absolutely, this entire approach would have to be bilateral. If we're considering everyone will be in the same boat I don't believe there will be many players who would want to break the trend and if they do I imagine we won't hear about it (it will be more a case of player x is injured until such time and has been released early)

 

[thebenjamin]

Realistically next season isn't looking too clever either. No chance this pandemic is all wrapped up in 5 months time.

 

[TonyS]

No matter what happens next with the season, cancel, postpone etc, some teams will be pissed off. There will be a legal action the like they have never seen before.

 

[Freddie]

No matter what happens next with the season, cancel, postpone etc, some teams will be pissed off. There will be a legal action the like they have never seen before.

Will be interesting to see what happens re legal action and claiming lost income through insurers. Considering the amounts that clubs will claim to have missed out on it could instantly bankrupt football authorities and insurance companies. The sums at the top end of football are simply too big

 

[AmericanSpur]

Assuming the season can’t be continued and everything pushed back, Option A. You can’t base league standings on an uneven schedule. It benefits Spurs and those in the relegation zone more than other teams and Leiceister and the teams in the Championship who would be promoted get screwed. But ultimately making decisions based purely off what has happened thus far also is unfair.

 

[whitesocks]

No matter what happens next with the season, cancel, postpone etc, some teams will be pissed off. There will be a legal action the like they have never seen before.

No - I think all teams accept that nothing is won or lost until the very end of the season.
However TV companies might want a big refund as most of the big audiences tune in for the final weeks of the competitions. Tricky as their money is already spent on wages.

 

[elfy]

The problem is looking at the league table, the top four - fine, you could reasonably give the title and champions league spots to the teams there. What about the Europa league spots? If we give the league spots to Man U who are in fifth and Wolves in sixth (giving the final cup spot to a random FA cup participant) this is hugely unfair on Sheffield United who have played 1 game less than Man U and Wolves. If the last cup spot is given to Sheffield utd, then its unfair to Arsenal as Arsenal have played a game less than Wolves. At the other end of the table, do we relegate Aston Villa even though they have played a game less than the teams above them. If they aren't relegated who is relegated instead and on what basis?

There is no fair way to finish the season now, the only option, although not ideal is to consider the season abandoned and restart the season from scratch using last seasons standings for european spots/relegation etc

 

[Johnny J]

No matter what happens next with the season, cancel, postpone etc, some teams will be pissed off. There will be a legal action the like they have never seen before.

I disagree. As a lawyer, I would be slow to advise a club to be seen to be seeking damages on the back of a global pandemic that will have killed thousands. Terrible for reputation.

There'll be a gentleman's agreement between the clubs to not do this.

 

[Trotter]

No matter what happens next with the season, cancel, postpone etc, some teams will be pissed off. There will be a legal action the like they have never seen before.

Who do you think they could sue, and for what exactly ?

Loss of matchday earnings for something along these lines is something the clubs could insure against if they choose to
Sue the Premier League, well each club is one of the 20 equal shareholders of the League, so sue themselves ?
The one thing the clubs cannot afford to give up is the money received from TV, that is why they will have to finish this season to honour that contract,even if this one ends in September and then cram the next in November to June next year, and adjust match calendar so teams can opt out of the cups for example.

 

[hellava_tough]

The problem is looking at the league table, the top four - fine, you could reasonably give the title and champions league spots to the teams there. What about the Europa league spots? If we give the league spots to Man U who are in fifth and Wolves in sixth (giving the final cup spot to a random FA cup participant) this is hugely unfair on Sheffield United who have played 1 game less than Man U and Wolves. If the last cup spot is given to Sheffield utd, then its unfair to Arsenal as Arsenal have played a game less than Wolves. At the other end of the table, do we relegate Aston Villa even though they have played a game less than the teams above them. If they aren't relegated who is relegated instead and on what basis?

There is no fair way to finish the season now, the only option, although not ideal is to consider the season abandoned and restart the season from scratch using last seasons standings for european spots/relegation etc

I don't think you could

Firstly we don't know if Man City are in it

Secondly, wolves and Sheffield United have a decent chance at getting a CL spot, and to a lesser extent Arsenal (and I guess us if you don't take injuries into account)

 

[ralvy]

So, you guys still think this COVID-19 pandemic is just a coincidence? I think Daniel Levy may have triggered a secret clause in our agreement with AIA in case of a failed season.

 

[jay2040]

No - I think all teams accept that nothing is won or lost until the very end of the season.
However TV companies might want a big refund as most of the big audiences tune in for the final weeks of the competitions. Tricky as their money is already spent on wages.

Do you think we will get a refund on sports subscription services!

 

[spursfan77]

No - I think all teams accept that nothing is won or lost until the very end of the season.
However TV companies might want a big refund as most of the big audiences tune in for the final weeks of the competitions. Tricky as their money is already spent on wages.

Suggesting that here

 

[Trotter]

Do you think we will get a refund on sports subscription services!

You can cancel if they are no longer providing you the service you want, till now they have so no refund would be due.

 

[eddiebailey]

Of course a precedent for suspending the League was set in 1915. When football resumed in 1919 promotion and relegation issues were settled in a way that resulted in no lasting grievances. None whatsoever. The ****s.

 

[Tucker]

Suggesting that here

It’s behind a paywall, any chance of posting the key points?

 

[spursfan77]

It’s behind a paywall, any chance of posting the key points?

I don’t have access. Just read the free bits!

 

[spursfan77]

Of course a precedent for suspending the League was set in 1915. When football resumed in 1919 promotion and relegation issues were settled in a way that resulted in no lasting grievances. None whatsoever. The ****s.

They’ll do something similar this time guaranteed.

 

[Tucker]

I don’t have access. Just read the free bits!

Lol ok. Can’t imagine the tv contracts don’t have clauses for this kind of eventuality. Mental if they don’t with all the money involved.