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

RobinLFC

Cries when Liverpool doesn't get praised
Joined
May 20, 2014
Messages
21,019
Location
Belgium
Supports
Liverpool

Schalke 04 is already training again. Mental if you ask me.
 

Andycoleno9

matchday malcontent
Joined
Mar 4, 2017
Messages
29,327
Location
Croatia
I would love that just one (!!!) pundit, journo or Liverpool's fan give further explanation when they say that Liverpool must be crowned as champion if season will not be finished. I read 100 times already; "Liverpool must get their title". Even Neville said that phrase.
But nobody is saying how to give them, based on what (except that they "deserve it"), what to do with other clubs, is it legit, how to solve promotions, relegations, CL, EL etc....

It pisses me off that people can't understand that any competition which is not finished is not legit. How is that that hard to understand?
 

RobinLFC

Cries when Liverpool doesn't get praised
Joined
May 20, 2014
Messages
21,019
Location
Belgium
Supports
Liverpool
business seems to be much more normal in gernamy than elsewhere - testing is also a lot more prevalant - it could be that those players have tested positive and recovered?
It hasn't been proven that you can't get reinfected if you've tested positive and recovered, has it? But I don't think it's the case anyway, one of them is Benito Raman and it would've definitely made Belgium news if he was tested positive.
 

sun_tzu

The Art of Bore
Joined
Aug 23, 2010
Messages
19,536
Location
Still waiting for the Youthquake
I would love that just one (!!!) pundit, journo or Liverpool's fan give further explanation when they say that Liverpool must be crowned as champion if season will not be finished. I read 100 times already; "Liverpool must get their title". Even Neville said that phrase.
But nobody is saying how to give them, based on what (except that they "deserve it"), what to do with other clubs, is it legit, how to solve promotions, relegations, CL, EL etc....

It pisses me off that people can't understand that any competition which is not finished is not legit. How is that that hard to understand?
I think the best option is to finish the leagues though ultimatley they probably run out of time

if that happens then you have a choice but each has ramifications

1. Void the league - which seems your preference - but tell me what then regarding the CL and European spots - Do they go to the clubs who competed this year as the cl etc is void as well - if so are city qualified? (or does their place go to arsenal?)... do you give out the places on current standings (as UEFA seems to have accepted this from belgium) - do you use UEFA coefficients? - whatever you do expect legal challanges as well as sky demanding back their money for the season or their deal being extended by a season for free - and the financial implications for clubs with that would be pretty severe potentially

2. Finish the league now and give the title to liverpool and relegate the bottom three - again expect massive challenges from anybody relegated - a partial refund demand from sky that would again have big financial implications - clubs wanting prise money - potentially challenges because some have played less games but have better points per game than somebody else

either way its going to be messy - ultimatley I dont think it will come down to who "deserves" what - but how to minimise the financial impact and legal challanges

I dont rule out the top clubs walking out of all their leagues and just setting up a european super league and leaving the smaller clubs to struggle whilst UEFA and the domestic leagues face the bills / legal challanges
 

sun_tzu

The Art of Bore
Joined
Aug 23, 2010
Messages
19,536
Location
Still waiting for the Youthquake
It hasn't been proven that you can't get reinfected if you've tested positive and recovered, has it? But I don't think it's the case anyway, one of them is Benito Raman and it would've definitely made Belgium news if he was tested positive.
I think (and of course its fluid) its proven that if you have been infected you have an antibody that prevents reinfection at least in the short term - there is no proof of its effect in the long term simply because the disease hasnt been round long enough but every other coronavirus antibody the immune system has produced has been shown to provide lifelong immunity ... whilst there have been some reports of people testing positive twice these to the best of my knowledge have been largley attributed to a false positive on the first test which given the newness of the tests and statistical sampling errors seems perfectly normal

but like you I dont know the background - just know that out german business is mostly unaffected our dutch, belgian and engish quite impacted and our italian and french severely impacted
 

RoyH1

Full Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
6,211
Location
DKNY
It’s good to see UEFA has reached an agreement with the virus for it to die by July or August
They're absolutely oblivious or wilfully stupid.

Spectator sports are going to be the absolutely last step on the road to normalcy. I cannot see them coming back in 5 or 6 months, unless a workable treatment/vaccine show up before (which would be nothing more of miraculous).

Putting 50,000 people together in a single place is lunacy until we have immunity in a lot of people. These UEFA types don't get it because they sit in their VIP boxes with their own toilets with less risk of infection.. The haven't shared a pissoir with 20 pissed guys singing at the top of their lungs.
 

golden_blunder

Site admin. Manchester United fan
Staff
Joined
Jun 1, 2000
Messages
120,954
Location
Dublin, Ireland
I think it will prove too costly to scrap the league. I think the most likely option is that it will finish behind closed doors now.

It's not just about Liverpool just because I'm a Liverpool fan! From a financial point of view it's more about Leeds and West Brom and the clubs going down and up etc.

I love watching Champions League football, especially now that Liverpool are one of the most likely winners (obviously not this season) and if it's safe to do so then play it next year. As I pointed out, you could delay the start of it to allow all European countries a chance to fully recover and for it to be safe to travel. That is my main concern, the safety.

It's bizarre how people think that only Liverpool fans want the league to restart when Liverpool are the only team who's finishing position is pretty certain! The other 19 spaces could be filled by any number of teams, do people not want to know how it ends?
Not really. Banter aside and in all seriousness, it’s quite a selfish outlook because they are putting the players, coaches and officials at risk, never mind the bus drivers and stadium staff that need to be on duty because of football. It’s not essential. What kind of message does it send out?
 

Sandikan

aka sex on the beach
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
53,749
German cases are increasing, so how they can even be thinking of gearing up for a return i do not know.

Way less than Spain, Italy and Uk but the bbc quotes their infection numbers as higher than the declared China total!
Although that total would take a real leap of faith to believe.

Apparently our league will announce the april 30 postponement date will extend today. Can only imagine it'll be open ended this time. No point at all just moving it for a month.
 

SirAnderson

Full Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2014
Messages
24,363
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa

SirAnderson

Full Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2014
Messages
24,363
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa
German cases are increasing, so how they can even be thinking of gearing up for a return i do not know.

Way less than Spain, Italy and Uk but the bbc quotes their infection numbers as higher than the declared China total!
Although that total would take a real leap of faith to believe.

Apparently our league will announce the april 30 postponement date will extend today. Can only imagine it'll be open ended this time. No point at all just moving it for a month.
Sadly they will learn the hard way if they don't take it seriously and think it can just go back to normal quickly.
 

DoubleDinhos

Liverpool Fan
Joined
Jan 30, 2010
Messages
1,086
Location
The Dreaded Lubyanka
I would love that just one (!!!) pundit, journo or Liverpool's fan give further explanation when they say that Liverpool must be crowned as champion if season will not be finished. I read 100 times already; "Liverpool must get their title". Even Neville said that phrase.
But nobody is saying how to give them, based on what (except that they "deserve it"), what to do with other clubs, is it legit, how to solve promotions, relegations, CL, EL etc....

It pisses me off that people can't understand that any competition which is not finished is not legit. How is that that hard to understand?
I'm of the opinion that because the title doesn't effect anything else - it doesn't involve movement between leagues, it doesn't involve assignment into different tournaments, it's relatively separate - then the it's something the teams should be collectively able to vote on. You'd need a majority to decide on it of course. If enough teams didn't feel it sets the right precedent that's fair enough. However, we're in a situation without a whole lot of precedent. I think in the context we can temporarily park the notion of what the typical procedure is. This is unprecedented to have a league encounter this so close to the end of the season, and if there is some consensus about the title, I don't think it harms any integrity of competition because this is a once in a century occurrence.

Let the teams collectively decide. By putting it to a vote you get away from the idea there needs to be some concrete quantifiable threshold for deciding when a team gets awarded the league, because it becomes a case of reasonable deduction.
 

Rooney24

Full Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2005
Messages
8,347
German cases are increasing, so how they can even be thinking of gearing up for a return i do not know.

Way less than Spain, Italy and Uk but the bbc quotes their infection numbers as higher than the declared China total!
Although that total would take a real leap of faith to believe.

Apparently our league will announce the april 30 postponement date will extend today. Can only imagine it'll be open ended this time. No point at all just moving it for a month.
Yeah they will buy themselves some time and most likely announe an "until further notice" Statement much the same as UEFA did in the week. But thats all they are doing....buying time.
 

AlwaysRed66

Full Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2016
Messages
1,897
It hasn't been proven that you can't get reinfected if you've tested positive and recovered, has it? But I don't think it's the case anyway, one of them is Benito Raman and it would've definitely made Belgium news if he was tested positive.
14% in China, & obviously this might change due to the virus being so new.
 

Andycoleno9

matchday malcontent
Joined
Mar 4, 2017
Messages
29,327
Location
Croatia
I think the best option is to finish the leagues though ultimatley they probably run out of time

if that happens then you have a choice but each has ramifications

1. Void the league - which seems your preference - but tell me what then regarding the CL and European spots - Do they go to the clubs who competed this year as the cl etc is void as well - if so are city qualified? (or does their place go to arsenal?)... do you give out the places on current standings (as UEFA seems to have accepted this from belgium) - do you use UEFA coefficients? - whatever you do expect legal challanges as well as sky demanding back their money for the season or their deal being extended by a season for free - and the financial implications for clubs with that would be pretty severe potentially

2. Finish the league now and give the title to liverpool and relegate the bottom three - again expect massive challenges from anybody relegated - a partial refund demand from sky that would again have big financial implications - clubs wanting prise money - potentially challenges because some have played less games but have better points per game than somebody else

either way its going to be messy - ultimatley I dont think it will come down to who "deserves" what - but how to minimise the financial impact and legal challanges

I dont rule out the top clubs walking out of all their leagues and just setting up a european super league and leaving the smaller clubs to struggle whilst UEFA and the domestic leagues face the bills / legal challanges
My opinion about all this is basically just like you said. I agree 100% with your post.
Except; i am not for voiding the league. I am against using current standings. Not because of Liverpool. feck them. I am against it because from all solutions it is the most stupid, illogical and against rules. And i don't see why at least 10 clubs would accept that. I am for finishing it of course. But i doubt that it will be finished so in that case only logical solution is voiding it. Which as you said will be also a huge mess.

Some basketball leagues in Europe already canceled seasons for example. Lets see how they will solve who goes where next season.
 

OnlyTwoDaSilvas

Gullible
Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Messages
21,741
Location
The Mathews Bridge
we have 92 (91 this year) league teams how many do they have? It’s got nothing to do with the PL it’s so that supporters are kore likely to go and watch the other 72 clubs.
England has 92(91) teams in its top 4 tiers. Germany has 148. Their 4th tier is regional. Seems like the 4th tier has pretty good attendances relative to the size of the clubs.

Probably helps that football is cheaper to attend. Here you can still be paying £40 to watch League One.
 

Andycoleno9

matchday malcontent
Joined
Mar 4, 2017
Messages
29,327
Location
Croatia
I'm of the opinion that because the title doesn't effect anything else - it doesn't involve movement between leagues, it doesn't involve assignment into different tournaments, it's relatively separate - then the it's something the teams should be collectively able to vote on. You'd need a majority to decide on it of course. If enough teams didn't feel it sets the right precedent that's fair enough. However, we're in a situation without a whole lot of precedent. I think in the context we can temporarily park the notion of what the typical procedure is. This is unprecedented to have a league encounter this so close to the end of the season, and if there is some consensus about the title, I don't think it harms any integrity of competition because this is a once in a century occurrence.

Let the teams collectively decide. By putting it to a vote you get away from the idea there needs to be some concrete quantifiable threshold for deciding when a team gets awarded the league, because it becomes a case of reasonable deduction.
Yes, this season is something what happens one time in history so there are no clear rules what to do. I agree. And clubs will must sit down and decide what to do. But in your case are you aware that;
1) Liverpool would get title based on the fact that they would "probably" be champions. Sport doesn't work like that.
2) If you get title "PL winner Season 2019/2020" that automatically means that season is legit, finished and can't be canceled. Then what to do with others club? It is domino effect.
 

RoyH1

Full Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
6,211
Location
DKNY
Sadly they will learn the hard way if they don't take it seriously and think it can just go back to normal quickly.
Just remember that they also test a lot more than comparable countries. The number of infections are not an optimal way of measuring due do to the massive disparities in testing capacity.
Number of people in intensive care and dead (per capita of course) give a more accurate picture of the situation.
 

SirAnderson

Full Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2014
Messages
24,363
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa
Just remember that they also test a lot more than comparable countries. The number of infections are not an optimal way of measuring due do to the massive disparities in testing capacity.
Number of people in intensive care and dead (per capita of course) give a more accurate picture of the situation.
True. I think the idea is the potential threat to the Health services.
If they managing the numbers and won't have an influx of people who suddenly need Intensive care, or even dealing with general medical challenges in conjunction with the Covid threat, then hey, I'm happy there is a country that is kicking this virus in the butt.
 

DoubleDinhos

Liverpool Fan
Joined
Jan 30, 2010
Messages
1,086
Location
The Dreaded Lubyanka
Yes, this season is something what happens one time in history so there are no clear rules what to do. I agree. And clubs will must sit down and decide what to do. But in your case are you aware that;
1) Liverpool would get title based on the fact that they would "probably" be champions. Sport doesn't work like that.
2) If you get title "PL winner Season 2019/2020" that automatically means that season is legit, finished and can't be canceled. Then what to do with others club? It is domino effect.
Why though? There are examples of the inverse having happened. Seasons completed where teams went up and down, qualified for Europe etc but historically there's no winner in books.

Is there much more precedent for entirely voiding a season that is 75% complete than there is for finishing it in some fashion? The World Wars are obviously a totally different scenario, barely any games in and with the knowledge that it would be a years spanning conflict.
 

BigRedScouser

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jan 9, 2013
Messages
104
Supports
Liverpool
I think it's funny that you have people calling others heartless for thinking about this season while so many people are dying, then in the same breath talk about the integrity of next season and how we must not disrupt that. As though the world will be coronavirus free by the time of next season.

Nah. You can have your own opinion and what we should do with the rest of this season... But if we aren't prepared to accept it won't be business as usual next season, we're all a bunch of idiots. We need to make adjustments to next season as soon as possible. I think that the number of games needs to be reduced so that we have plenty of room to play the games, with coronavirus disruption in mind.

To me, the option that makes sense is to play maybe one round of league fixtures, and have playoffs/tournament. I have no idea how that would work, but I'm sure it could ensure no TV money is lost even with less games due to the novelty and excitement of a tournament.
 

AlwaysRed66

Full Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2016
Messages
1,897
I think it's funny that you have people calling others heartless for thinking about this season while so many people are dying, then in the same breath talk about the integrity of next season and how we must not disrupt that. As though the world will be coronavirus free by the time of next season.

Nah. You can have your own opinion and what we should do with the rest of this season... But if we aren't prepared to accept it won't be business as usual next season, we're all a bunch of idiots. We need to make adjustments to next season as soon as possible. I think that the number of games needs to be reduced so that we have plenty of room to play the games, with coronavirus disruption in mind.

To me, the option that makes sense is to play maybe one round of league fixtures, and have playoffs/tournament. I have no idea how that would work, but I'm sure it could ensure no TV money is lost even with less games due to the novelty and excitement of a tournament.
As idiot ideas goes this is one of the worst. What about all the small clubs down the pyramid. They are the I care about, not so Liverpool can get the league & PL gets its TV money. As one journalist said, 'a hurricane is going to hit the elite of football in this country'. Unfortunately, they are to dim to see it coming.
 

BigRedScouser

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jan 9, 2013
Messages
104
Supports
Liverpool
As idiot ideas goes this is one of the worst. What about all the small clubs down the pyramid. They are the I care about, not so Liverpool can get the league & PL gets its TV money. As one journalist said, 'a hurricane is going to hit the elite of football in this country'. Unfortunately, they are to dim to see it coming.
Huh? What are you talking about you fool? I'm talking about next season. Whether they void this season or not, next season can't happen as normal. Every level of sport should be preparing to make changes to their next season.

Preparing next season to have the same schedule as this season is utter madness. Next season WILL be interrupted by coronavirus. We need to prepare for that hurricane now. All across the football pyramid. Otherwise we will have to void that season too, or disrupt the season after. We won't have time to play all the games because coronavirus WILL disrupt it.
 

El Zoido

Full Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2013
Messages
12,453
Location
UK
If they void the season Liverpool will still be awarded the title. Clubs will agree to this if it comes down to it.

There doesn’t appear to be an end in sight for coronavirus, football seems so far away at this point. I miss the game but it feels so insignificant with everything else going on.
 

Pagh Wraith

Full Member
Joined
May 2, 2011
Messages
4,361
Location
Germany
Wow, just wow. That's crazy. Really hope nothing comes of this stupid decisions the BL is taking.
I don't see why it is stupid. Restrictions have to be loosened step by step at some point. The league plans to restart first or second weekend of May and the government has allowed the clubs to resume training (in groups of two or three for now). This does not cause infections, mass events do. Which is why all games will be behind closed doors of course.
 

HackeyC

Full Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2018
Messages
539
Honestly, just give them the league based on a Duckworth-Lewis esque method, it would be more infuriating for them to have it continuously brought up for the next 30 years than just voiding the league. A simulated league outturn would probably put us in the top four based on prevailing form and difficulty of opposition to come, which would round things off nicely.
 

Ish

Lights on for Luke
Joined
Mar 10, 2010
Messages
32,554
Location
Voted the best city in the world
Not really. Banter aside and in all seriousness, it’s quite a selfish outlook because they are putting the players, coaches and officials at risk, never mind the bus drivers and stadium staff that need to be on duty because of football. It’s not essential. What kind of message does it send out?
Yep, not to mention if football wants to restart - what is stopping all other sports from restarting and then we might end up back at square 1 with infection rates etc.

I mean, the season is still salvageable until end May/maybe June, at a stretch - but even by then, with contract situations and fitness standards (to name a few) - if they can't see how the competition would be compromised (if it isn't already), I really don't know what to say. Purely driven by money.
 

Chicharo

Full Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2010
Messages
4,154
Location
Near Vida's hometown
People, let's be honest. Liverpool have won the title 5 months ago. No one here wishes them to grab it, but they are the best team in the league, and they deserve it.
My bigger concern is what will happen with CL spot, because we could've still reached it. Not to mention EL
 

Zexstream

Anti-anti-racist
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Messages
2,095
People, let's be honest. Liverpool have won the title 5 months ago. No one here wishes them to grab it, but they are the best team in the league, and they deserve it.
My bigger concern is what will happen with CL spot, because we could've still reached it. Not to mention EL
I agree, just like we won the FA Cup and Europa League.

It's only fair all those teams who have not mathematically won anything be awarded their trophies they have not won.
 

Chicharo

Full Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2010
Messages
4,154
Location
Near Vida's hometown
I agree, just like we won the FA Cup and Europa League.

It's only fair all those teams who have not mathematically won anything be awarded their trophies they have not won.
It's incomparable. There is absolutely no chance they will lose so many games to let Citeh win it even if the season continues at some point. FA Cup and EL are different
 

cyberman

Full Member
Joined
May 26, 2010
Messages
37,331
It's incomparable. There is absolutely no chance they will lose so many games to let Citeh win it even if the season continues at some point. FA Cup and EL are different
Its not incomparable, either the season is void or not. You cant award some of the trophies and not others.
 

Cloud7

Full Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Messages
12,942
If they void the season Liverpool will still be awarded the title. Clubs will agree to this if it comes down to it.

There doesn’t appear to be an end in sight for coronavirus, football seems so far away at this point. I miss the game but it feels so insignificant with everything else going on.
Believe me mate, it is the most insignificant thing going on right now. Ever since this started I haven't thought about football in the slightest, and really could not care less about when it restarts. Getting through every day at work now without a cough or a fever is the best feeling in the world right now haha.
 

Zexstream

Anti-anti-racist
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Messages
2,095
It's incomparable. There is absolutely no chance they will lose so many games to let Citeh win it even if the season continues at some point. FA Cup and EL are different
Who knows, especially now all teams have unfit players.

Nobody can foresee the future, just look at this virus, if I said to you in December a virus would become a global pandemic bringing the world to a standstill you would have laughed!
 

Zexstream

Anti-anti-racist
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Messages
2,095
Other side of the planet, but Australia does not have it as bad as us, and yet......


Prime Minister
@ScottMorrisonMP
says Australia's #coronavirus bans, restrictions and shutdowns are here to stay until at least October or until we have a vaccine.


 

Uniquim

Full Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2009
Messages
5,761
Location
Location, Location
Saw a suggestion online that the Premier League halt the season now, and allow for promotions only for next seasons, offering the additional games as a bonus for broadcasters in order to hopefully retain that income in full. Pretty sensible suggestion imo. Problem being the additional games, and the inflexibility should there be another outbreak during next season. Assuming that would mean promotion only for the top 2, expanding the PL to 22 clubs for one season.
 

SirAnderson

Full Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2014
Messages
24,363
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa
I don't see why it is stupid. Restrictions have to be loosened step by step at some point. The league plans to restart first or second weekend of May and the government has allowed the clubs to resume training (in groups of two or three for now). This does not cause infections, mass events do. Which is why all games will be behind closed doors of course.
Fair enough step by step. What other restrictions have loosened up publicly though?
 

Pep's Suit

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Messages
1,705
Shanghai was relatively unscathed by coronavirus which is in bizarre in itself to be honest. Same goes for Beijing. He is right though, this virus has been around for longer than we think. China only told the world about it once it became impossible to keep under wraps anymore, I'd hazard a guess that it probably was around November and was probably in Europe by Christmas too. I'm certain of it.
First case in China was mid-November, a man in 50s.