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Which is fairer? Coronavirus implications

Led's Zeppelin

Can't Re Member
May 28, 2013
7,333
20,178
As far as I know there is no legal precedent for this situation , the only thing remotely near it is when Sheffield Utd challenged the PL over not docking West Ham points which Sheff. Utd said caused their relegation but lost their case in the courts. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/aug/16/newsstory.westhamunited but Sheff Utd did eventually sue West ham ( not the PL ) and did get a financial settlement but it took two years to settle.

We are all guessing but with such extraordinary circumstances my guess is that if clubs launch a legal battle the courts will back any
decisions taken by the ruling bodies i.e FA or PL and not rule in favour of what might have happened for a particular club if the season had finished to a proper conclusion.

Any lawyers out there with any proper legal knowledge ?

Not me.

But my guess is that in unprecedented situations like this, new solutions have to be found rather than vainly trying to twist rules that were drawn up for one purpose to try to fit completely different circumstances.

Thats how the law evolves isn’t it? Precedent doesn’t answer everything.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,512
Here’s a thought: should next season International cups not be played as the leagues are not finishing their season and therefore not decided on who gets the Europa League and Champions League? Just a season with domestic cups

This I think will be the biggest problem, because it will cause a massive financial hole for both teams and UEFA, and there is more of a headache in sorting this out than a national league where you can just void the season and everyone stays in situ. Plus you have many more vested interests to deal with and people that have a say.

As much as Spurs fans would love it, I don't think it is credible to just re-run it with this seasons line up. It doesn't look fair if turd teams like us and Arsenal, and I'm sure others round Europe, wouldn't have got in to the competitions this time around and yet get a second chance, plus enjoy the revenue to shore up their positions and ward off rival clubs.

But then using the existing partially completed league tables as the adjudicator isn't satisfactory either. There was still a lot of football to be played and very tight battles for the European spots.

Personally, and it's still an assumption that a new season may be able to start in say the Autumn, I think UEFA has to either sacrifice, or get creative. I just don't think they will be able to run the usual competitions. Either cancel them for 20-21 season (unlikely) or find a unique solution for one season. Maybe one single open cup competition (done on the coefficient ranking of the top 128 teams, or more, say) that could at least put some European football on and claw back some lost revenue.
 

SirHarryHotspur

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2017
4,995
7,409
Not me.

But my guess is that in unprecedented situations like this, new solutions have to be found rather than vainly trying to twist rules that were drawn up for one purpose to try to fit completely different circumstances.

Thats how the law evolves isn’t it? Precedent doesn’t answer everything.

As there are no precedents and it is a national emergency I would have thought that any court of law would back any desicions made by the PL or FA , I do not think that any clubs will be able to sue for loss of income they might try but I think the courts will back the ruling bodies.
Thousands of businesses all over the country are losing money by being closed on Government orders , will they be able to sue for loss of income I doubt it , football clubs just have to accept like everyone else they are going to lose out in one way or another.
 
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yankspurs

Enic Out
Aug 22, 2013
41,883
71,187
This I think will be the biggest problem, because it will cause a massive financial hole for both teams and UEFA, and there is more of a headache in sorting this out than a national league where you can just void the season and everyone stays in situ. Plus you have many more vested interests to deal with and people that have a say.

As much as Spurs fans would love it, I don't think it is credible to just re-run it with this seasons line up. It doesn't look fair if turd teams like us and Arsenal, and I'm sure others round Europe, wouldn't have got in to the competitions this time around and yet get a second chance, plus enjoy the revenue to shore up their positions and ward off rival clubs.

But then using the existing partially completed league tables as the adjudicator isn't satisfactory either. There was still a lot of football to be played and very tight battles for the European spots.

Personally, and it's still an assumption that a new season may be able to start in say the Autumn, I think UEFA has to either sacrifice, or get creative. I just don't think they will be able to run the usual competitions. Either cancel them for 20-21 season (unlikely) or find a unique solution for one season. Maybe one single open cup competition (done on the coefficient ranking of the top 128 teams, or more, say) that could at least put some European football on and claw back some lost revenue.
Its unfair? Well boo fucking hoo. Nothing about this is fair on anyone. Fairness has been thrown out the window! This is a worldwide pandemic that is not ending anything soon and still hasnt peaked yet. Countries throughout the world are in complete lockdown. Tens of thousands are dying. Tens of thousands more are fighting for their lives. There is no cure. Football doesn’t matter now.

When this eventually subsides in May or something, its not prudent to just lift everything at once either. That will take at least another month. Then people will have to deal with other problems that this virus will cause. You’re likely looking at a july or August restart. Then what happens to the following season? When does that start? December? That causes issues with the Qatar World Cup as after that, the only realistic start would be March then you move to the stupid spring schedule which would be blown up again in the summer of 2024. The only thing to do is to end this season universally and declare it null and void. It’s the least bad option.
 

djee

Well-Known Member
Nov 24, 2004
624
1,797
Voiding the season appears to be the only reasonable outcome. I sense that most fair-minded fans will acknowledge that 'resetting' would not be a result of a horrible, politcal injustice but rather a consequence of a devastating pandemic that will cost the lives of thousands, stretch the NHS and severely impact the livelihood of perhaps millions in the UK.

As everyone has observed there are too many ramifications to simply making up some sort of compromise arrangement and will be open to legal challenges everywhere. Some clubs will 'benefit' more than others, but ultimately the vast will suffer financial loss and perhaps total ruin. The first footballing objective when things recover is to support players and staff - particularly from lower leagues - and develop a plan that makes the sport more financially stable. Even before this crisis, football was spiraling out of control with a gulf in wealth between elite sides, and many clubs effectively gambling on their future in order to try and keep up.

Perhaps it is easier as Spurs fans to be a tad more blasé about the situation (particularly given how awful the season has been so far) but the debate of whether Liverpool should win the title or Leeds/WBA come up seems a zillion miles away from any sort of priority both in the real or footballing world.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,512
Its unfair? Well boo fucking hoo. Nothing about this is fair on anyone. Fairness has been thrown out the window! This is a worldwide pandemic that is not ending anything soon and still hasnt peaked yet. Countries throughout the world are in complete lockdown. Tens of thousands are dying. Tens of thousands more are fighting for their lives. There is no cure. Football doesn’t matter now.

When this eventually subsides in May or something, its not prudent to just lift everything at once either. That will take at least another month. Then people will have to deal with other problems that this virus will cause. You’re likely looking at a july or August restart. Then what happens to the following season? When does that start? December? That causes issues with the Qatar World Cup as after that, the only realistic start would be March then you move to the stupid spring schedule which would be blown up again in the summer of 2024. The only thing to do is to end this season universally and declare it null and void. It’s the least bad option.

a) I think you've replied to a post you've made up in your own head.

b) Says football doesn't matter, goes on to give his hot take....
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
21,904
78,638
So the Portuguese FA have cancelled all junior championships across the country. Personally for me this is a bitter blow as the club In coaching were in advanced position to be promoted, not sure if that'll happen now.

However, I do think it's the right call in the grand scheme of things as football should be put aside during this. As long as those dependent on the sport for income are provided with support.

The football community needs to come together now and ensure that all clubs are given support to survive. Forget titles and promotions etc. This is now about survival.
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
21,904
78,638
So the Portuguese FA have cancelled all junior championships across the country. Personally for me this is a bitter blow as the club In coaching were in advanced position to be promoted, not sure if that'll happen now.

However, I do think it's the right call in the grand scheme of things as football should be put aside during this. As long as those dependent on the sport for income are provided with support.

The football community needs to come together now and ensure that all clubs are given support to survive. Forget titles and promotions etc. This is now about survival.
To add to this you do start to see some true colours come out. My head coach is throwing a right tantrum, threatening to quit football and say it's fucking devasting - all that work in the trash.

I'm trying to calm him down by saying there's more to this than football right now but he's just rambling and ranting. Arrrghhh.

If the PL go ahead and do the same we will have Liverpool fans behaving in exactly the same manner.
 

LeSoupeKitchen

Well-Known Member
Aug 18, 2011
3,102
7,621
Why do they have to pay back all the TV money? I doubt that money will be passed back to the people who subscribed to BT or Sky. Plus you cant take back all the adverts people have watched.
 

ShaunL84

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2013
3,725
10,853
Why do they have to pay back all the TV money? I doubt that money will be passed back to the people who subscribed to BT or Sky. Plus you cant take back all the adverts people have watched.

How many people have stopped their subscriptions to BT Sport/Sky since this began?
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
the only thing guaranteed in all this is football at whatever level there are going to be a disappointment for a lot of clubs, and unfortunately a lot of clubs that will struggle to recover, but I'm sure the most important thing should be that every single person in the world should be more worried about their families and friends, and if that means no football until this pandemic has been fought and won, and no way of returning then football and other sports has to take the back seat.

there are going to be so many complications in trying to restart the game, which will lead to more deaths because of it. this season has to be voted null and void, to be honest UEFA and all players involved in playing in the CL and Europa will have to understand that in reality, those competitions shouldn't take place next season. if this season cannot be finished in full, I not only don't think it's fair to use the teams from last season in it, but very much doubt they will be able to complete the qualifying rounds that lead up to the group stages.

If they void it which I think they will, the next football season if and when it finally starts should be set up as if it's the very 1st time. I know I will get a lot of crap from this, but to be honest I come on here to help kill time, my families, friends health and the lives of millions is more important than a game of football
 

Metalhead

But that's a debate for another thread.....
Nov 24, 2013
25,351
38,294
Can we not use Lawro to predict the rest of the season and base the final table on that?
 

Humbleone

Member
Dec 5, 2019
27
74
In Australia, the Hyundai A-League is still functioning perfectly well with no spectators being present. Yes it was a bit weird at first, but they seem to be just getting on with it and I've been watching their games live on BT Sport. In fact, I've quite got into it now. I appreciate their particular situation is different to our own in some respects but they at least are getting on with completing their season. There has to be a way we can organise playing the rest of our season without fans being present, with live games being broadcast as usual, now that all pubs and bars have been shut down.



.

I agree, well... Simply put the new temporary rules of social distancing within the game. If any player gets within 4 foot of the other, the opposing team gets awarded a goal. VAR will be utilized to the max there, should be interesting viewing. Lots of long shots.
 

Archibald&Crooks

Aegina Expat
Admin
Feb 1, 2005
55,533
204,720
How many people have stopped their subscriptions to BT Sport/Sky since this began?
I'd guess loads. And I'll take another guess and suggest quite a number of them won't be taking it up again in a hurry because when we come out the other side of this it'll take a while for people to claw back some financial stability and be able to afford it.

All of this is probably going to change a whole raft of things that we haven't even imagined yet. In very many ways. And not just in sport.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,884
62,543
Sheffield United's Sander Berge was on Norwegian TV yesterday and said they've been given a training programme by the club that has them training at home through April, and aims for a mini pre-season for a couple of weeks in May and then playing out the rest of the season in June and perhaps into July.

We'll see in time whether or not that's too optimistic but I imagine most clubs have the same sort of timeframe right now.
 

Erm33

Well-Known Member
May 10, 2019
3,960
7,604
Given that they're expected to cancel Wimbledon (tennis) which was due to run for 2 weeks from June 29th, I don't see how football comes back this season. It just seems like they want to make sure Liverpool get their title cause they're so far clear. To me it makes the most sense to void and not mess up the schedule of many more seasons just for the sake of one.
 
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