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

[90 + 5min]

Agreed. It's almost like some football fans never want to see it come back?!

Football, like all other industries will have to adapt to the virus.

Everyone want football back. But there is time and place for everything. And there is lot of things to be thinking about before. This is where I stand so you don’t think it is about Liverpool.

From my point of view I am for league to be cancelled and Liverpool given title. Not because I am afraid but because this is no place and time playing football in current situation looking at the society. And when the time has come to resume it would be minefield looking at lot of aspects around it. Everything from contracts, sponsors, domestic and international cups, timetable and lot of other questions. So I say, cancel the season. Than start planning what to do and how to do with next season. This pandemic have already destroyed this season so why destroy next one. And the more we are talking about resuming this season the worse is it for clubs to prepare for future. That if anything will lead to economic problems for clubs not knowing what will happen.

 

[Random Task]

The relaxation of the lockdown is going to start on Thursday.

Idiots will always be idiots, but why pander to them?

If they make behind closed doors matches free to air, it would encourage people to stay in?

Honest question.

What about the 300 or so people it will take to run a match behind closed doors, are they to be considered expendable?

 

[mu4c_20le]

I think people have this idea that we void this season then start another one in August or September. If we're unable to finish this season because of covid, why would the next season start?

The integrity of the season has been compromised. At this point the only reason to finish it is because of financial obligations.

 

[Okey]

Anybody get this 'neutral venues' idea? Makes no sense to me, especially the documented major reason of stopping fans congregating. Neutral venues absolutely destroys the integrity of the competition. It's a league, not a tournament. And if you're worried about fans, they'll gather where they wish. If the resources aren't there to police that, and accommodate these games being played at their scheduled venues, albeit behind closed doors, then they might as well not restart the league yet...

 

[Fox_Chrys]

If the PL want it back, they shouldn't be using media to test the public mood.




You mention a risk perspective; that perspective is limited by your own view that 22 men live in a vacuum, diagnosis is instantaneous and there is no association with public behaviour.

You're right, from a risk perspective; what 22 people do, the behavioural influence they have, their broader direct and indirect impact they have, the reliability of tests and diversion of NHS resources for a game is light years apart from human necessities, from a health perspective and a moral perspective.

Its quite interesting how some fans are so desparate for a game their arguments become vacuous.

For what its worth I cant see us playing games any time soon, other countries around us have said they wont be and we are the worst affected country in Europe.

But my point was the situation with the same 22 men on a football pitch is very different to people mingling with strangers in shops and the like, the risk factor is magnitudes different, the government has already deemed food shopping acceptable. (which personally I thought was bonkers).

But I dont think EPL games are been played in June regardless.

 

[Smores]

There seems to be an assumption that the matches will be televised. That seems a very secondary concern if it makes the matches more risky to put on.

 

[Fox_Chrys]

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PFA really need to step up once for the players.

The problem I have is this.

Most people are either still working, or are furloughed with reduced pay.

Players are been protected but also still getting full pay. Which doesn't sit right with me, even though its in their contracts.

 

[Withnail]

There seems to be an assumption that the matches will be televised. That seems a very secondary concern if it makes the matches more risky to put on.

If they can't be televised there'll be little appetite to play the games at all, given the money the PL would miss out on in that scenario.

 

[Fox_Chrys]

Just wow, if true. Madness from Premier League and the only reason is money. They can now stop with this "football family" when they don't care about fans. I guess, if this happens, that is over with social distancing in England and people are now allowed to go wherever they want. Pubs, bars, nightcubs, restaurants, cinemas and so on. Because we can't have one rule for footballers and one for rest of society? I wonder what Boris Johnson and goverment will say.

A closed doors football match cannot even be compared to opening a bar. The risk of both compared is not even remotely close.

The only real risk of playing these games is that people will mingle to watch them, they may turn up outside stadiums, they may go to each other's houses to watch together. That's the real problem of playing the games, and that is a serious risk. The players on the pitch been pre-tested as clean is not the issue.

I expect the way this will be looked at by government is the risk of pre-tested players and officials at a stadium for the benefit of entertainment for millions of people, from that point of view its a quite a good deal. We will find out if it happens, however the problem is we are the worst affected country in Europe, and it is perhaps silly to play games when other countries have decided not to.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

The problem I have is this.

Most people are either still working, or are furloughed with reduced pay.

Players are been protected but also still getting full pay. Which doesn't sit right with me, even though its in their contracts.

Agreed, they have a contract that protects their salaries, which they will wave in their clubs faces all day long, so on the flip side if the powers that be decide it is safe for them to play, with likely way more safe guarding put in place than the average worker that is about to be asked to return to work, then they play, or risk been in breach of contract.

 

[Fox_Chrys]

My take on this:

The season should be voided, life is more important than football. No champions, no team relegated, Champions league places decided based on last seasons league table.

That would be really farcical, also UEFA have already seen through this, they have already told us, we not allowed to nominate teams for CL either from last seasons table or on co-efficient. It has to be on merit for this season. Which I 100% agree with.

You cannot have Arsenal going into the CL having been on mid table form for 3/4 of a season.

Voiding a season is not neutral. No football associations have voided their season yet and I don't think any of them will.

 

[Walrus]

The integrity of the season has been compromised. At this point the only reason to finish it is because of financial obligations.

I agree with this

 

[Fox_Chrys]

Agreed, they have a contract that protects their salaries, which they will wave in their clubs faces all day long, so on the flip side if the powers that be decide it is safe for them to play, with likely way more safe guarding put in place than the average worker that is about to be asked to return to work, then they play, or risk been in breach of contract.

Indeed, how many workers have their entire workforce pre-tested before they turn up and then have the entire crew isolate if one person tests positive? No one else is getting that kind of protection.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

The integrity of the season has been compromised. At this point the only reason to finish it is because of financial obligations.

But is that not allowed, swathes of staff are about to be asked to go back to work because of their firms 'financial obligations', some of their staff will no doubt get the virus on the back of going back to work, which will be deemed a necessary risk, so why is football, and sport in general deemed as been the devil for looking at ways to get back on track, to fulfil their 'financial obligations'? Loads of clubs could be on their arse if this isn't finished as who knows what the knock on effects could be,

I don't get the player protection thing either, yes they are rich and famous, but still just have a contract and so job to do, they are no more special than your average office worker who is about to be asked to return to work, and no question they will be protected a hundred times better than them anyway,

Add into the mix the massive lift seeing some sort of mainstream sport returning will do for peoples mental well being, then I hope they can get it back on as planned.

 

[Dave Smith]

Honestly some of you lot should never leave your house ever again if this 'what if' game is your mindset. Weld your front door and be done with it because if you're looking for a world with literally no risk, there's not one part of the outside world that furfills that desire.

Eventually we have to coexist with this virus, yes people who test positive have to isolate and rightly so but isolating everyone they come into contact with was only ever a sticky plaster route while we played catch up. Say McDonald's open and one employee tests positive. Does that restraunt have to close alongside the workplaces of whoever came into contact with him? What if that covers half the town in questions high street? What if one of those places is an essential bank like Halifax?

Non essential businesses are starting to make plans to open up, none are totally risk free but all are taking the precautions to limit risk. McDonald's is opening up gradually, BBC want EastEnders to resume filming in June etc..

Not opening things up on the off chance isn't sensible, it's stupid, because you end up tanking the economy which will lead to inadequate funding of the NHS and ultimately end up costing most of the lives you think you're saving (plus excess). Restarting business with precautions is the happy medium between both ends of stupid (going back to complete normal and keeping everything shut until the virus is gone, to which point the virus would have long been the least of our worries).

Ultimately with all the precautions being taken (controlled, mass testing, BCD, distancing at every stage humanely possible) footballers will actually be much, much safer than they were in the few weeks leading up to footballs cancellation, when they were playing in full crowds and changing together despite the virus being on the ascendency.

I agree with pretty much all of this. However, in regard to the finishing of the season, I disagree.

My reasons for not wanting to finish the league are;

1) Neutral venues change the nature of the competition and hand some clubs advantages.

2) I just do not see how they are going to fit the end of this season in and then move onto next season wi

But is that not allowed, swathes of staff are about to be asked to go back to work because of their firms 'financial obligations', some of their staff will no doubt get the virus on the back of going back to work, which will be deemed a necessary risk, so why is football, and sport in general deemed as been the devil for looking at ways to get back on track, to fulfil their 'financial obligations'? Loads of clubs could be on their arse if this isn't finished as who knows what the knock on effects could be,

I don't get the player protection thing either, yes they are rich and famous, but still just have a contract and so job to do, they are no more special than your average office worker who is about to be asked to return to work, and no question they will be protected a hundred times better than them anyway,

Add into the mix the massive lift seeing some sort of mainstream sport returning will do for peoples mental well being, then I hope they can get it back on as planned.

Well it depends on their terms of contract. I would imagine that a lot of players have clauses that state if they do not get paid x amount they're free to leave and/or request a transfer.

 

[Dancfc]

I agree with pretty much all of this. However, in regard to the finishing of the season, I disagree.

My reasons for not wanting to finish the league are;

1) Neutral venues change the nature of the competition and hand some clubs advantages.

2) I just do not see how they are going to fit the end of this season in and then move onto next season wi


Well it depends on their terms of contract. I would imagine that a lot of players have clauses that state if they do not get paid x amount they're free to leave and/or request a transfer.

I do see your point with the stadiums but at the same time fairness is always unbalanced to some degree, for a random example this season Arsenal got to play United when on both occasions you (apologies if you're not a United fan) were in dire form whereas we got you when you were full of confidence and firing.

Regarding point 2, rumours a change to calendar seasons may be getting discussed, which actually makes sense given the potential of a second wave combined with Qatar22.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-fi...-calendar-possibility-to-be-discussed-fifa-vp

 

[Ludens the Red]

I didnt see your previous post so sorry if you actually said this, but the difference between you, me and PL clubs is of course that the PL clubs employ both their own medical staff and pay private clinics with on staff surgeons to perform surgeries, who specialize in sport injuries.

As you very correctly point out, the PL clubs are not responsible to test the public. And why would they be, the entire economy and infrastructure of the Premier League is barely a fart in the wind compared to the British States treasury. In fact, European Football iin its entirety is valued at around £25.1 billion per Deloitte. The Gross Domestic Product of Britain is £2,88 billion. Football compared to the state is absolutely nothing. The state has all the muscles and has the capability to provide tests where they are needded.

Yeah for sure and that they haven’t done it or rather it’s taken them this long to is kinda embarrassing to be honest. It also then makes those who are able to get their own house in order (in this case the PL) look like arseholes.

Well, I think it's only a decent period of time if you believe that things are on the mend somewhat. Now, I don't mean back to "normal' because that would imply a vaccination and we clearly can't wait that long, but when there's still so many deaths and uncertainty it doesn't sit well with me that certain people at the top of the game are so insistent on forcing a resumption so soon. And I know you say about the possible misinformation regarding tests, etc (and maybe that's true), but I can only go on what I've read, and what I've read is experts coming out and voicing their concerns if the game is brought back too soon. Also, you have players and managers who are insistent that the game shouldn't come back until things are approaching a decent level of safety and essential workers are taken care of and tested before we can even think of kicking a ball. I don't see that happening by the beginning of June.

Ultimately, I'm willing to own my bias here and admit that a lot of it comes down to my dislike of how the people at the top have portrayed themselves throughout this. Whether it's the bullshit propaganda of "sporting integrity" and the sanctity of the competition or how we have to "respect the competition" and play it out as soon as possible. Or the self-important tripe of it "lifting the morale of the general public". Give me a fecking break. It's about money and only money; spare me your pretensions of higher moral value.

Saying that I don't think my bias negates anything I've said in my first paragraph. I still genuinely believe it's too soon. Time will tell, of course.

That’s fair enough, they’re all legitimate concerns and only time will tell if this is a bad idea or not and how things actually are come the middle of June.

In regards to essential workers, I can only go from first hand experience but the message is that testing is now available for all. We (met) have been told there’s 120 tests a day available for us but then it’s quite specific what you need to be eligible. Unfortunately or rather fortunately I’ve no symptoms so I have no first hand experience on how this is going and nobody I know has used or attempted to use it. Mum (nurse) has been told she can be tested via a drive through. She’s not in a covid ward so that’s a good sign that it’s now widespread testing for all nurses not just covid ward ones.

I get the issue people have with the PL’s reasoning but I mean really are we expecting them to come out and say “we want to continue for the money”. We know what businesses like the PL are like when they release these bullshitty ‘statements’ it’s all about their public image. What I will say though is PL footballers have actually stepped up and done a fair bit for the NHS. There’s also the fact the PL seem to be far better at getting their house in order than say the government.

 

[Rooney24]

I do see your point with the stadiums but at the same time fairness is always unbalanced to some degree, for a random example this season Arsenal got to play United when on both occasions you (apologies if you're not a United fan) were in dire form whereas we got you when you were full of confidence and firing.

Regarding point 2, rumours a change to calendar seasons may be getting discussed, which actually makes sense given the potential of a second wave combined with Qatar22.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-fi...-calendar-possibility-to-be-discussed-fifa-vp

That’s called Being in or out of form. It is absolutely nothing to do with fairness and not comparable at all to the point of neutral stadiums.

 

[Santoryo]

Honest question.

What about the 300 or so people it will take to run a match behind closed doors, are they to be considered expendable?

Seriously what the hell is the matter with some of you people. The way you lots are acting as if these guys are being sent to get brutally shot is ridiculous.

What exactly do you even think is happening right now during this lock down? Do you think not a single soul is out there working. Those 300 people aren't going to be the first ones to be working during this pandemic, there are already thousands upon thousands of people working and they aren't considered expendable. Your statement is even funnier considering the likelihood you don't even understand the weight of the ridiculousness that accompanied what you just wrote.

Some of you are acting completely and utterly irrational, it's crazy. You ought to come down. You lots are getting way too giddy at every chance to fear monger and act as if the world is ending. Just step back for a bit and calm down. Jesus Christ.

 

[Dancfc]

Seriously what the hell is the matter with some of you people. The way you lots are acting as if these guys are being sent to get brutally shot is ridiculous.

What exactly do you even think is happening right now during this lock down? Do you think not a single soul is out there working. Those 300 people aren't going to be the first ones to be working during this pandemic, there are already thousands upon thousands of people working and they aren't considered expendable. Your statement is even funnier considering the likelihood you don't even understand the weight of the ridiculousness that accompanied what you just wrote.

Some of you are acting completely and utterly irrational, it's crazy. You ought to come down. You lots are getting way too giddy at every chance to fear monger and act as if the world is ending. Just step back for a bit and calm down. Jesus Christ.

I remember back in 2012 when the world was suppose to end on December 21st I was getting ready for work the day before and overheard on the radio that one in ten people were genuinely worried it was legit and the world was ending, some iirc hid in underground caves to try and survive whatever the hell was suppose to be happening.

At the time i thought surely not (1 in 10 think it's happening) but after these last couple of months my thought process has gone the other way to wondering if it was a massive under estimate

 

[Red00012]

Biggest fear?
Id say the biggest fear, snd obviously a sporting context only, would be no football for a couple of years. It's already inevitable there won't be going to games until 2021.

Liverpool will be declared champs this season, so i'd probably get used to that.

A couple of years is a bit dramatic .

 

[Sandikan]

A couple of years is a bit dramatic .

Hence it being the "biggest fear", not the milder version the poster said.

 

[mshnsh]

That would be really farcical, also UEFA have already seen through this, they have already told us, we not allowed to nominate teams for CL either from last seasons table or on co-efficient. It has to be on merit for this season. Which I 100% agree with.

You cannot have Arsenal going into the CL having been on mid table form for 3/4 of a season.

Voiding a season is not neutral. No football associations have voided their season yet and I don't think any of them will.

The french and dutch leagues have already been voided.

 

[jymufc20]

As United fans we should want the league to finish. Like a person mentioned above if it’s cancelled in anyway we are in the Europa again and the likes of Sancho might not be interested in coming to us. We can still still win 2 trophies and finish top 4

How do you know there will be any Europe next season ? Personally I would love the season to be finished us getting top four, winning the FA cup and Europa League, but we have to face up to the facts, it isn't going to happen.

 

[Random Task]

Seriously what the hell is the matter with some of you people. The way you lots are acting as if these guys are being sent to get brutally shot is ridiculous.

What exactly do you even think is happening right now during this lock down? Do you think not a single soul is out there working. Those 300 people aren't going to be the first ones to be working during this pandemic, there are already thousands upon thousands of people working and they aren't considered expendable. Your statement is even funnier considering the likelihood you don't even understand the weight of the ridiculousness that accompanied what you just wrote.

Some of you are acting completely and utterly irrational, it's crazy. You ought to come down. You lots are getting way too giddy at every chance to fear monger and act as if the world is ending. Just step back for a bit and calm down. Jesus Christ.

It's easy to talk about rationality, giddiness, and fear-mongering when you haven't been affected by the coronavirus, isn't it? Which you clearly haven't.

Try preaching your ignorant nonsense to the 250k families (and counting) who have been affected. I'm sure they'd gladly show you where you can stick those words.

 

[jymufc20]

yes maybe I'm clueless or maybe there's a little truth in what I'm saying.
You won't admit it but if Liverpool gets denied the championship you will be the first one to troll Liverpool fans with "lol maybe next year" posts. Your posting history alludes to that.
Theres is a reason why AFTV is so popular.

I will admit it and I will be the first to troll if they get denied the title and I will also be the first to troll you if the German government deny you the title.

@TheReligion is a great poster and I am confused as to why you are giving him shit like this.

 

[Wibble]

Football a high risk sport for virus transmission

https://total-waterpolo.com/study-a...ZanPh6sBSQoQtnn2oDj_tO8eRSBJKTrwdFGyR8-Y49Rio

 

[Pexbo]

Football a high risk sport for virus transmission

https://total-waterpolo.com/study-a...ZanPh6sBSQoQtnn2oDj_tO8eRSBJKTrwdFGyR8-Y49Rio

The fears I have over it comes down to the reports of seemingly very fit and healthy people who are in a good age group who have passed away. Reports of cyclists and marathon runners who have compromised their immune systems with the level of physical pressure they put their bodies under. Pre-season is notoriously gruelling. If a single player dies from this because they pressured them to start playing again, there’s going to be huge law suits.

 

[TheReligion]

I will admit it and I will be the first to troll if they get denied the title and I will also be the first to troll you if the German government deny you the title.

@TheReligion is a great poster and I am confused as to why you are giving him shit like this.

Thanks mate although I'm sure plenty disagree with you!

It seems the Germans hate me

 

[Garry Buck]

What about finishing the season in Perth Australia as it’s being reported in the last hour? I don’t think for a second this report is true but I think it would be logical if it happened. I know it’s far away but Australia has handled the virus pretty well so far and have lifted a lot of restrictions already.

 

[BusbyMalone]

That’s fair enough, they’re all legitimate concerns and only time will tell if this is a bad idea or not and how things actually are come the middle of June.

In regards to essential workers, I can only go from first hand experience but the message is that testing is now available for all. We (met) have been told there’s 120 tests a day available for us but then it’s quite specific what you need to be eligible. Unfortunately or rather fortunately I’ve no symptoms so I have no first hand experience on how this is going and nobody I know has used or attempted to use it. Mum (nurse) has been told she can be tested via a drive through. She’s not in a covid ward so that’s a good sign that it’s now widespread testing for all nurses not just covid ward ones.

I get the issue people have with the PL’s reasoning but I mean really are we expecting them to come out and say “we want to continue for the money”. We know what businesses like the PL are like when they release these bullshitty ‘statements’ it’s all about their public image. What I will say though is PL footballers have actually stepped up and done a fair bit for the NHS. There’s also the fact the PL seem to be far better at getting their house in order than say the government.

That's good to hear. My mum is a care worker and they're looking at introducing tests in her care home. That still hasn't happened yet, unfortunately. Agreed about the players though. That's why I wanted to stress when I made my original post in her that it wasn't to shit on the players. In the main, they've reacted very well to the situation - including voicing their concerns about starting the league too soon.

As for the Premier League acting better than the government, we'll have to agree to disagree there. Neither of them have come out of this looking good, IMO. I haven't got a great deal of love for any of them!

Be safe

 

[Wibble]

What about finishing the season in Perth Australia as it’s being reported in the last hour? I don’t think for a second this report is true but I think it would be logical if it happened. I know it’s far away but Australia has handled the virus pretty well so far and have lifted a lot of restrictions already.

International travel is almost banned. The NZ Warriors just got an exemption to come over to finish the NRL season though

And I doubt Perth has enough stadium capacity. Sydney would be more logical for stadiums but WA is essentially Covid free whereas we aren't quite there yet in NSW.

 

[Amir]

What about finishing the season in Perth Australia as it’s being reported in the last hour? I don’t think for a second this report is true but I think it would be logical if it happened. I know it’s far away but Australia has handled the virus pretty well so far and have lifted a lot of restrictions already.

The idea of taking people away from their families for about two months - and at a time like this - is just absurd.

 

[Wibble]

Although Perth is awesome at this time of year

 

[montpelier]

I can't get interested in a farce completion of the season in empty neutral grounds.

I understand about the ££££. I understand why Liverpool want to play to a finish in any way possible.

But it's all stupid arrangements and doesn't sound all that safe for those directly involved.

I'd rather be a snowflake than a bellend on this one.

 

[Blackwidow]

Ikea Cologne this afternoon...

There were kilometres of cars on the way to IKEA Dortmund.

If there just would run some actual football in TV...

 

[Wibble]

Some very good early news about possible treatments - peer reviewed and published in Nature as well. Now to human trials.

https://www.sciencealert.com/there-...08_jMa7Mpz4pCOQ_C-42J0mvtOWvP45FpUN3C5YXGb4lM

 

[Rozay]

Honest question.

What about the 300 or so people it will take to run a match behind closed doors, are they to be considered expendable?

We’ve had 300 people in every supermarket even during the worst of this pandemic. Should everyone just stay at home for a year unless they sell food?

 

[Berbasbullet]

We’ve had 300 people in every supermarket even during the worst of this pandemic. Should everyone just stay at home for a year unless they sell food?

Yes because both of those things are the exact same thing.

 

[Wibble]

We’ve had 300 people in every supermarket even during the worst of this pandemic. Should everyone just stay at home for a year unless they sell food?

Yes. So people don't die unnecessarily.