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Could they void the PL due to the Coronavirus? | No | Resuming June 17th

SirAnderson

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Can anyone explain how "behind closed doors" will work?

So presumably lots of people gathered together when there is a virus about, that has the potential to kill huge numbers of people is not a good idea right? so no crowds please. Fine
But 22 athletes, another dozen on the bench, 5 officials, kit men, physios, medical staff, training staff, broadcasting teams, ball boys, for every game in every round until the end of the season, is somehow an acceptable level of exposure? Are all this lot going to go in to strict quarantine after every game? And what about the impact of serious injuries that may require hospital resources?

It sounds a really stupid idea to me.

I can only see two scenarios:
a) Miracle recovery, everything is cured and safe, back to football, Wetherspoons and dogging.
b) The virus persists and we continue to limit unnecessary potential exposure to the virus, which includes not playing loads of team sports that require huge support staff.
Exactly, the option for BCD is just silly and even defeats the purpose and only suits the crazy people.
 

Ish

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Satisfying the majority can’t be done, so next best thing is to make a decision that has the same effect on everyone and that is what the dippers are terrified of because there’s only one way to do that...
Yep. Finishing this season at all costs, actually only benefits a minority imo. You can’t just freeze the league and expect to resume the season. So many other challenges spring to mind.
 

SharpshooterTom

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I agree with one of the previous posters who said this season will have to be completed this time next season.

There isn't going to be much sport played if any in 2020. No way will they let crowds of 40,000-70,000 pack together to watch football anytime this year.
 

ColvaleGoa

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Also regular matchgoers are not going to be quids in when it is all sorted. Just thinking maybe people just won't have enough money to go to stadiums or away trips..need to keep that in mind also.
 

FootballHQ

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Football tickets will have to be reduced a fair bit for whenever next season takes place.
 

SilentWitness

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Pedro made a good point about match fitness...training at home is not comparable and it's almost impossible to replicate an actual match fitness scenario at home so if the players are thrusted into competitive games again then the fitness levels are going to be trash and it's a possibility that a few bad injuries could happen. Not sure how they would manage to fit in a pre-season style of game though due to the time constraints the footballing bodies are trying to put on the game and because of the virus risk...it's a shite scenario all round.

Really dislike the recent comments by the FA in terms of the top divisions too. Shows how much money means to them because other than money, there is no justification for why the Premier League needs to be completed but the lower level divisions do not.

If the government are capable of making emergency funds available for wages the footballing authorities can do something similar. I'd get rid of the Fa Cup and League Cup for the 'next season'. Use that time to finish off the rest of this seasons fixtures + have a full next season too. In terms of lower clubs missing out on a cup run, create an emergency fund which guarantees these clubs each get a portion of money that is generated by TV money and the rest. Cut the wages or whatever in the top league for a season. There are ways of doing it. Make the European positions gained by getting into Europe by league position instead for that year. That's assuming that football can start again in the summer or just after.

Nobody knows what will happen - in the world or football. That's why it's annoyed me so much that they've just sacked off the lower league clubs without much care while continuously postponing the top leagues.
 

Pep's Suit

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May and June sounds impossible and end of June not much better. It would be nice to watch PL during July but realistically I don't expect any football before mid / late September.
 

Ronaldo's Mum Eh?

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This post is infuriating.
Do you watch the news?

How the hell are numbers "coming down" you maniac.
We're increasing dramatically, Spain are, Italy are. Etc.
USA are escalating wildly, and you're expecting them to produce the cure soon?

The first case in China was pre 2020, and they've only just got cases to calm down. They don't know if they'll see a second wave start now.

We're seeing mass furloughing of employees for months in the Uk. Nothing is being sorted for a long time.
I said the numbers are coming down in the experts death prediction which was originally 500k and now down to 20k.

We will have to agree to disagree but quite frankly my opinion is that I don't see them cancelling this season. They will find a way to play it out - whether it's this year or finishing this season at some point next year depending on how bad it gets.

Let's hope I'm wrong though.
 

FootballHQ

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Actually a really nice touch would be for NHS workers to get new concession style tickets from their clubs or even free tickets for first five games or something.
 

caid

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How will you conduct an exam online?
Seen this asked a few times.
I dont know why they dont just work under the assumption you have access to google and other resources? The whole memory test aspect of an exam is silly imo. You'll always have access to these resources in every situation outside of an exam and its foolish not to make use of them if you're unsure. Having a seperate setup for exams that have no real world relevance beyond preparing you just makes no sense to me.
 

D. Mungai

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the 5 nations in Europe,
Italy, UK, France, Spain, Germany has a combined 262,139 cases now. Its 17:05 GMT 28/03/2020 as i type this. Explain to me like 3 year old how that is going to be eradicated in 3 months WITHOUT a vaccine or cure?

I have said it here , people are really casual about Covid-19 but they will be shocked when its too late. No football is going to happen this year sad but true if medicine i not found.
To put the numbers in to perspective today 260 people have died in UK because of Covid-19, the 2005 London bombings killed 52 people, this comes to around 5 ( Five ) London Bombings numbers today. Meaning 5 Bombings happened today. Scary as they come.
As humanity we need to accept some things are not that important now, of paramount importance is erasing this virus from society now
 

AaronRedDevil

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Its possible to finish their respective leagues in some way. But continuing the CL/EL is crazy and way too risky.
 

Member 101269

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It truly amazes me how small minded some people are, If you as much as show a little care for the sport ingrained in your life you get an army full of people wading in with their sizes nine's trying to pass you off as Fred West mark 2, it's truly ridiculous.

You do realize you can wish for a positive outcome on both football and the pandemic, right?
The UK government re-iterated today that they're trying to keep deaths below 20,000. That is 20,000 grandparents, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons and children. I read comments like this about small mindedness. Wish all you want, I'm interested in views like those of a frontline Professor Kim from Korea University Guro Hospital in Korea.

I can't post media: the video interview on Professor Kim is posted by Asian Boss entitled: You Need To Listen To This Leading COVID-19 Expert From South Korea

For everyone else, Professor Kim talks about the measures used to control CV19, which includes 6 hour testing, an app to track position and symptoms. The most relevant bit for the return of football is the length of period this will last. He suggests two possibilities, 1) cases decrease over summer in the northern hemisphere, moving to the southern hemisphere. It then returns in November/December. a 10%, maybe lower, chance of removing it from human population by July/August, .or 2) it's removed through drugs, which he says could be 10-15 year. 18 months is best case, if everything goes smoothly. The best chance is repurposing an existing drug. However, he says even if the US or the other global superpower creates one, don't count on them sharing it.

Lets be honest here, 18 months maybe a pipe dream before we're back. FA can hope for a small window between July/August, but i can't see how morally they could do it.. perhaps 21/22 is when we'll restart.
While professor Neil Ferguson reckons this can be over by Easter. The newness of this virus means even experts are struggling to put a time on it, you get some who think this can be over in weeks and others who think it will be take over a year, the reality is most likely in between.
Dancfc: fake news; he said the peek for intensive care beds could be. But the gov said lockdown could last 6 months. Show the evidence of any prof saying it'll be over in weeks..

For everyone else: there is an article written by Professor Ferguson published 16th March Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Dancfc

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The UK government re-iterated today that they're trying to keep deaths below 20,000. That is 20,000 grandparents, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons and children. I read comments like this about small mindedness. Wish all you want, I'm interested in views like those of a frontline Professor Kim from Korea University Guro Hospital in Korea.

I can't post media: the video interview on Professor Kim is posted by Asian Boss entitled: You Need To Listen To This Leading COVID-19 Expert From South Korea

For everyone else, Professor Kim talks about the measures used to control CV19, which includes 6 hour testing, an app to track position and symptoms. The most relevant bit for the return of football is the length of period this will last. He suggests two possibilities, 1) cases decrease over summer in the northern hemisphere, moving to the southern hemisphere. It then returns in November/December. a 10%, maybe lower, chance of removing it from human population by July/August, .or 2) it's removed through drugs, which he says could be 10-15 year. 18 months is best case, if everything goes smoothly. The best chance is repurposing an existing drug. However, he says even if the US or the other global superpower creates one, don't count on them sharing it.

Lets be honest here, 18 months maybe a pipe dream before we're back. FA can hope for a small window between July/August, but i can't see how morally they could do it.. perhaps 21/22 is when we'll restart.
While professor Neil Ferguson reckons this can be over by Easter. The newness of this virus means even experts are struggling to put a time on it, you get some who think this can be over in weeks and others who think it will be take over a year, the reality is most likely in between.
 

piesel

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Official Juventus announcement, all first team players and coaching staff have reached an agreement to cut salaries for an amount that comprises March, April, May and June payments.
 

Redcy

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Given the fact that the scientists are in general agreement that even if this virus does recede during the summer months it'll be back again come winter time. Then to even consider a 2020/21 season ever existing is 'pie-in-the-sky' stuff. As suggested by a poster only yesterday, the best viable option would be to mothball this current season for 12 months, then come back next year & finish it off. Things such as players contracts, transfer windows etc are merely side issues that can be sorted out during the year long hibernation period. Given the current situation is only going to get worse, & players voicing their concerns about even playing games behind closed doors, then a long break, with a view to completing this season at a later date, seems to be the only way to satisfy most parties.
You think if we come back in 12 months we will have the same teams available?

I think the season will only be played out if it can be done before October.
 

Ciro

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Exclusive: FA and Premier League planning to complete season behind closed doors in July restart
Exclusive: The Premier League and FA are planning on finishing the season behind closed doors starting in July, with clubs facing legal headaches over player contracts

By Joe Doyle
15:01, 28 MAR 2020 UPDATED 15:35, 28 MAR 2020

The FA, Premier League and English Football League are currently planning to finish the 2019/20 season behind closed doors over a period of four to six weeks starting in July, football.london understands.

All emphasis currently is on finishing the season and therefore avoiding the potential ramifications of an unfinished competition, including hundreds of millions of pounds in lost revenue for clubs.

With the current lockdown period set to end on April 13, clubs will be hoping that the conditions can be relaxed with players able to return to training.

Fixtures are postponed until at least April 30 at the moment, but the expectation is that there will be further postponements, with issues over insurance and player safety likely to stop any matches taking place until the crisis is over.

Those within some of London's Premier League clubs have told football.london they are yet to hear a firm proposal from the governing bodies on what will happen next, but are well aware that nobody knows as of yet when football in the country will be able to restart. All clubs are hoping the game returns sooner rather than later but it must be when the fears over players, staff members and their families' health are gone.

football.london understands that in a conference call between the three governing bodies and the government on Saturday, the plan was reached to complete the season in July, with games to take place behind closed doors over a period of four to six weeks unless the situation worsens in the UK.

This will then take the teams more or less straight into the new season, but there will be some allowances made to try and help players and clubs cope with what would essentially be an extended 2020/21 season.

Those potential measures could include cancelling cup replays, or even potentially scrapping the League Cup and EFL Trophy.

This would also bring up potential problems with players' contracts and incoming transfers, with the likes of Hakim Ziyech already agreeing to join Chelsea on July 1, while Willian and Pedro are set to be out of contract on that date.

However, those concerns are currently of a secondary nature, and would involve input from FIFA, including on when the transfer window is likely to open.

Whether players would be allowed to register for new clubs with a season ongoing remains to be seen, offering the prospect of a potential legal nightmare for a number of players and clubs.

The next Premier League meeting is scheduled to take place on Friday, where clubs could be told about a potential starting date.

https://www.football.london/premier-league/premier-league-coronavirus-closed-doors-18000224
 

Dave Smith

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So, UEFA confirm end of June to save the season. From the sounds of it there is a plan A (May), B (Early June) and C (End of June) option. In my opinion, these will play out as;

A) Everything is completed
B) Domestic Cups get scrapped
C) Domestic Cups and CL get scrapped

The problem however with this scenario is when they will know when they can get back to playing. My opinion is that they will need three weeks lead in prior to a May or Early June start and a four week lead in for late June. This will be due to the fitness of players. So, for me any restart needs to be clarified by the end of May.
 

TheReligion

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Exclusive: FA and Premier League planning to complete season behind closed doors in July restart
Exclusive: The Premier League and FA are planning on finishing the season behind closed doors starting in July, with clubs facing legal headaches over player contracts

By Joe Doyle
15:01, 28 MAR 2020 UPDATED 15:35, 28 MAR 2020

The FA, Premier League and English Football League are currently planning to finish the 2019/20 season behind closed doors over a period of four to six weeks starting in July, football.london understands.

All emphasis currently is on finishing the season and therefore avoiding the potential ramifications of an unfinished competition, including hundreds of millions of pounds in lost revenue for clubs.

With the current lockdown period set to end on April 13, clubs will be hoping that the conditions can be relaxed with players able to return to training.

Fixtures are postponed until at least April 30 at the moment, but the expectation is that there will be further postponements, with issues over insurance and player safety likely to stop any matches taking place until the crisis is over.

Those within some of London's Premier League clubs have told football.london they are yet to hear a firm proposal from the governing bodies on what will happen next, but are well aware that nobody knows as of yet when football in the country will be able to restart. All clubs are hoping the game returns sooner rather than later but it must be when the fears over players, staff members and their families' health are gone.

football.london understands that in a conference call between the three governing bodies and the government on Saturday, the plan was reached to complete the season in July, with games to take place behind closed doors over a period of four to six weeks unless the situation worsens in the UK.

This will then take the teams more or less straight into the new season, but there will be some allowances made to try and help players and clubs cope with what would essentially be an extended 2020/21 season.

Those potential measures could include cancelling cup replays, or even potentially scrapping the League Cup and EFL Trophy.

This would also bring up potential problems with players' contracts and incoming transfers, with the likes of Hakim Ziyech already agreeing to join Chelsea on July 1, while Willian and Pedro are set to be out of contract on that date.

However, those concerns are currently of a secondary nature, and would involve input from FIFA, including on when the transfer window is likely to open.

Whether players would be allowed to register for new clubs with a season ongoing remains to be seen, offering the prospect of a potential legal nightmare for a number of players and clubs.

The next Premier League meeting is scheduled to take place on Friday, where clubs could be told about a potential starting date.

https://www.football.london/premier-league/premier-league-coronavirus-closed-doors-18000224
Joe Doyle from Football London? Must be gospel then! Again all speculation. What we do know if that if things aren't done by the end of June it looks very much like it will be game over.
 

TheReligion

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Given the fact that the scientists are in general agreement that even if this virus does recede during the summer months it'll be back again come winter time. Then to even consider a 2020/21 season ever existing is 'pie-in-the-sky' stuff. As suggested by a poster only yesterday, the best viable option would be to mothball this current season for 12 months, then come back next year & finish it off. Things such as players contracts, transfer windows etc are merely side issues that can be sorted out during the year long hibernation period. Given the current situation is only going to get worse, & players voicing their concerns about even playing games behind closed doors, then a long break, with a view to completing this season at a later date, seems to be the only way to satisfy most parties.
It depends which view you hold. Many would say it's pie in the sky and utterly ridiculous to suggest playing the rest of this season a year later. UEFA have said it needs to all be done by the end of June and agreed across the board. Players don't want to play behind closed doors. This is heading one way only. .
 

Che Guevara

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This season will either be voided or merged with 20/21. Whilst this pandemic is still raging, Governments will have the final say on sporting activities and I cannot see any European govt authorising resumption of any sporting activity anytime soon.
 

dwd

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Exclusive: FA and Premier League planning to complete season behind closed doors in July restart
Exclusive: The Premier League and FA are planning on finishing the season behind closed doors starting in July, with clubs facing legal headaches over player contracts

By Joe Doyle
15:01, 28 MAR 2020 UPDATED 15:35, 28 MAR 2020

The FA, Premier League and English Football League are currently planning to finish the 2019/20 season behind closed doors over a period of four to six weeks starting in July, football.london understands.

All emphasis currently is on finishing the season and therefore avoiding the potential ramifications of an unfinished competition, including hundreds of millions of pounds in lost revenue for clubs.

With the current lockdown period set to end on April 13, clubs will be hoping that the conditions can be relaxed with players able to return to training.

Fixtures are postponed until at least April 30 at the moment, but the expectation is that there will be further postponements, with issues over insurance and player safety likely to stop any matches taking place until the crisis is over.

Those within some of London's Premier League clubs have told football.london they are yet to hear a firm proposal from the governing bodies on what will happen next, but are well aware that nobody knows as of yet when football in the country will be able to restart. All clubs are hoping the game returns sooner rather than later but it must be when the fears over players, staff members and their families' health are gone.

football.london understands that in a conference call between the three governing bodies and the government on Saturday, the plan was reached to complete the season in July, with games to take place behind closed doors over a period of four to six weeks unless the situation worsens in the UK.

This will then take the teams more or less straight into the new season, but there will be some allowances made to try and help players and clubs cope with what would essentially be an extended 2020/21 season.

Those potential measures could include cancelling cup replays, or even potentially scrapping the League Cup and EFL Trophy.

This would also bring up potential problems with players' contracts and incoming transfers, with the likes of Hakim Ziyech already agreeing to join Chelsea on July 1, while Willian and Pedro are set to be out of contract on that date.

However, those concerns are currently of a secondary nature, and would involve input from FIFA, including on when the transfer window is likely to open.

Whether players would be allowed to register for new clubs with a season ongoing remains to be seen, offering the prospect of a potential legal nightmare for a number of players and clubs.

The next Premier League meeting is scheduled to take place on Friday, where clubs could be told about a potential starting date.

https://www.football.london/premier-league/premier-league-coronavirus-closed-doors-18000224
Did you get that from The S*n or do you read football.london often?
 

FootballHQ

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It depends which view you hold. Many would say it's pie in the sky and utterly ridiculous to suggest playing the rest of this season a year later. UEFA have said it needs to all be done by the end of June and agreed across the board. Players don't want to play behind closed doors. This is heading one way only. .
A large chunk of next season will likely have to be played behind closed doors or massively reduced capacities so players will have to get used to the idea as frustrating as it is.
 

AlwaysRed66

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A large chunk of next season will likely have to be played behind closed doors or massively reduced capacities so players will have to get used to the idea as frustrating as it is.
If this virus is still around there wont be football full stop, behind closed doors or otherwise. Players unions are already saying they wont play. If a vaccine is found, there is no reason not to go back to normality.
 

FootballHQ

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If this virus is still around there wont be football full stop, behind closed doors or otherwise. Players unions are already saying they wont play. If a vaccine is found, there is no reason not to go back to normality.
Vaccine not around for 12 months or even more so guess restarting in March 2021 could actually happen. Hope not though. My main hope is we just test test test like the more successful countries so far at limiting the spread. At least can then get an idea of %s that have had it and hotspots. Government has promised testing will be ramped up in April. Ultimately football clubs will be tested to the max aswell.
 

sammsky1

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I agree with one of the previous posters who said this season will have to be completed this time next season.

There isn't going to be much sport played if any in 2020. No way will they let crowds of 40,000-70,000 pack together to watch football anytime this year.
I think it's naive to think life will return back to what it was pre covid19, in UK and every other country. Football as a sport will see many behaviour changes.

1. How comfortable will fans be to be crammed inside a stadium, even when it's declared safe? Think Spain and Italy too.
2. Will you be prepared to pay £70-£100 a ticket, when you've just experienced the financial hardships of not working and self isolation, knowing that could be re-introduced without warning and at any time?
3. During self isolation, people realise there is a lot more to life than football, and that this sport has been destroyed by capitalism. elite players earning ridiculous sums of money will have to stop, and clubs will also have caps for transfer fees and wages (also reduced income).

Many more that I cant think of yet!
 

sammsky1

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Feb 10, 2008
Messages
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Location
London
I can't post media: the video interview on Professor Kim is posted by Asian Boss entitled: You Need To Listen To This Leading COVID-19 Expert From South Korea

For everyone else, Professor Kim talks about the measures used to control CV19, which includes 6 hour testing, an app to track position and symptoms. The most relevant bit for the return of football is the length of period this will last. He suggests two possibilities, 1) cases decrease over summer in the northern hemisphere, moving to the southern hemisphere. It then returns in November/December. a 10%, maybe lower, chance of removing it from human population by July/August, .or 2) it's removed through drugs, which he says could be 10-15 year. 18 months is best case, if everything goes smoothly. The best chance is repurposing an existing drug. However, he says even if the US or the other global superpower creates one, don't count on them sharing it.
 

Amir

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Joe Doyle from Football London? Must be gospel then! Again all speculation. What we do know if that if things aren't done by the end of June it looks very much like it will be game over.
Yeah, every couple of days you have some reporter claiming there's a plan to restart football on this and that date. It's crap. There's absolutely no one in the world who knows when playing sports would be possible. But it gets headlines.
 

Dancfc

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Chelsea
3. During self isolation, people realise there is a lot more to life than football,
Really? It's becoming clear from talking to people and looking at social media/forums the complete opposite is happening.

If I got a pound for every time I heard/read something along the lines of "I'm never going to moan about a Burnley Vs Norwich super Sunday again" I'll have enough money to make an attempt at finding a vaccine for this virus myself.

I've even read a few posts of people vowing to watch the J League if that returns as planned in early May.

This period will only strengthen the average persons love for the game, not weaken it.
 

Che Guevara

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Exclusive: FA and Premier League planning to complete season behind closed doors in July restart
Exclusive: The Premier League and FA are planning on finishing the season behind closed doors starting in July, with clubs facing legal headaches over player contracts

By Joe Doyle
15:01, 28 MAR 2020 UPDATED 15:35, 28 MAR 2020

The FA, Premier League and English Football League are currently planning to finish the 2019/20 season behind closed doors over a period of four to six weeks starting in July, football.london understands.

All emphasis currently is on finishing the season and therefore avoiding the potential ramifications of an unfinished competition, including hundreds of millions of pounds in lost revenue for clubs.

With the current lockdown period set to end on April 13, clubs will be hoping that the conditions can be relaxed with players able to return to training.

Fixtures are postponed until at least April 30 at the moment, but the expectation is that there will be further postponements, with issues over insurance and player safety likely to stop any matches taking place until the crisis is over.

Those within some of London's Premier League clubs have told football.london they are yet to hear a firm proposal from the governing bodies on what will happen next, but are well aware that nobody knows as of yet when football in the country will be able to restart. All clubs are hoping the game returns sooner rather than later but it must be when the fears over players, staff members and their families' health are gone.

football.london understands that in a conference call between the three governing bodies and the government on Saturday, the plan was reached to complete the season in July, with games to take place behind closed doors over a period of four to six weeks unless the situation worsens in the UK.

This will then take the teams more or less straight into the new season, but there will be some allowances made to try and help players and clubs cope with what would essentially be an extended 2020/21 season.

Those potential measures could include cancelling cup replays, or even potentially scrapping the League Cup and EFL Trophy.

This would also bring up potential problems with players' contracts and incoming transfers, with the likes of Hakim Ziyech already agreeing to join Chelsea on July 1, while Willian and Pedro are set to be out of contract on that date.

However, those concerns are currently of a secondary nature, and would involve input from FIFA, including on when the transfer window is likely to open.

Whether players would be allowed to register for new clubs with a season ongoing remains to be seen, offering the prospect of a potential legal nightmare for a number of players and clubs.

The next Premier League meeting is scheduled to take place on Friday, where clubs could be told about a potential starting date.

https://www.football.london/premier-league/premier-league-coronavirus-closed-doors-18000224
A large chunk of next season will likely have to be played behind closed doors or massively reduced capacities so players will have to get used to the idea as frustrating as it is.
In this crisis football is the last thing on anybody's mind, it absolutely pales into insignificance. The lives, health and welfare of the public is the only thing that matters, footballers included. You can't have exceptions for footballers and allow them to bump into each other whilst the rest of society are social distancing. The same players are at high risk as well because when they are in the stadium or when they go back home they may come into contact with other persons who may be infected. No government will allow that. Already some club players and officials are infected.
 

Ian Reus

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Yeah, every couple of days you have some reporter claiming there's a plan to restart football on this and that date. It's crap. There's absolutely no one in the world who knows when playing sports would be possible. But it gets headlines.
Are you trying to say the trumpster doesn't know?
 

Dancfc

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Yeah, every couple of days you have some reporter claiming there's a plan to restart football on this and that date. It's crap. There's absolutely no one in the world who knows when playing sports would be possible. But it gets headlines.
There's also know one that truly knows how long the virus will be around for yet it doesn't stop people quoting them and putting "footballs done" alongside it.
 

sammsky1

Pochettino's #1 fan
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London
Really? It's becoming clear from talking to people and looking at social media/forums the complete opposite is happening.

If I got a pound for every time I heard/read something along the lines of "I'm never going to moan about a Burnley Vs Norwich super Sunday again" I'll have enough money to make an attempt at finding a vaccine for this virus myself.

I've even read a few posts of people vowing to watch the J League if that returns as planned in early May.

This period will only strengthen the average persons love for the game, not weaken it.
I don't think the current commercial model will be sustainable. The game will carry on, but not with 2019 football-o-nomics.

Let's see ... time will tell.
 

Redcy

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Exclusive: FA and Premier League planning to complete season behind closed doors in July restart
Exclusive: The Premier League and FA are planning on finishing the season behind closed doors starting in July, with clubs facing legal headaches over player contracts

By Joe Doyle
15:01, 28 MAR 2020 UPDATED 15:35, 28 MAR 2020

The FA, Premier League and English Football League are currently planning to finish the 2019/20 season behind closed doors over a period of four to six weeks starting in July, football.london understands.

All emphasis currently is on finishing the season and therefore avoiding the potential ramifications of an unfinished competition, including hundreds of millions of pounds in lost revenue for clubs.

With the current lockdown period set to end on April 13, clubs will be hoping that the conditions can be relaxed with players able to return to training.

Fixtures are postponed until at least April 30 at the moment, but the expectation is that there will be further postponements, with issues over insurance and player safety likely to stop any matches taking place until the crisis is over.

Those within some of London's Premier League clubs have told football.london they are yet to hear a firm proposal from the governing bodies on what will happen next, but are well aware that nobody knows as of yet when football in the country will be able to restart. All clubs are hoping the game returns sooner rather than later but it must be when the fears over players, staff members and their families' health are gone.

football.london understands that in a conference call between the three governing bodies and the government on Saturday, the plan was reached to complete the season in July, with games to take place behind closed doors over a period of four to six weeks unless the situation worsens in the UK.

This will then take the teams more or less straight into the new season, but there will be some allowances made to try and help players and clubs cope with what would essentially be an extended 2020/21 season.

Those potential measures could include cancelling cup replays, or even potentially scrapping the League Cup and EFL Trophy.

This would also bring up potential problems with players' contracts and incoming transfers, with the likes of Hakim Ziyech already agreeing to join Chelsea on July 1, while Willian and Pedro are set to be out of contract on that date.

However, those concerns are currently of a secondary nature, and would involve input from FIFA, including on when the transfer window is likely to open.

Whether players would be allowed to register for new clubs with a season ongoing remains to be seen, offering the prospect of a potential legal nightmare for a number of players and clubs.

The next Premier League meeting is scheduled to take place on Friday, where clubs could be told about a potential starting date.

https://www.football.london/premier-league/premier-league-coronavirus-closed-doors-18000224
Utter garbage, I cannot see how the EFL teams would want to play BCD, or could probably even do it. The cost alone would be prohibitive to doing it, thats ignoring player concerns over meeting other players. These are pro footballers who no doubt, have young families, old families, etc. Without a vaccine all that we are doing really is delaying infection rates, there is no evidence that lockdown prevents infection restarting later. It just allows our services to cope better, or that was my understanding.