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

C'est Moi Cantona

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Six isn't a bad result at all, hopefully the next rounds of testing don't cause any issues, then it should be full steam ahead to get things finished.
 

Classical Mechanic

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This'll probably put a stopper in the restart plan:

It says players or club staff. That could be drawn from a huge number. United PLC has 922 staff as of 2018, as a guesstimate are we saying 300-400 that are involved at club level on a day to day basis plus more for match day? About 7000 - 10000 that are involved in this operation across the league?
 

edcunited1878

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Football is an activity that requires close physical contact of many many people. 'Society' is going to have to adjust while Covid19 is an issue.

Im OK if there is no football before a vaccine. It's just a game and for entertainment. There is plenty of more important things for society to focus on right now. Also plenty of other sports like cricket, tennis, athletics etc that don't pose the same risks.
Football isn't just a game though...it's a business and it employs thousands of people, if not tens of thousands of people, not including the players or staff on hourly wages that support them.

All the other individual or individually distant sports still require more people to operate and function than the figures playing the match. Coaches, umpires/refs, grounds crew, security, TV broadcast teams, stadium operations, health pros/ambulance, etc.
 

C'est Moi Cantona

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It says players or club staff. That could be drawn from a huge number. United PLC has 922 staff as of 2018, as a guesstimate are we saying 300-400 that are involved at club level on a day to day basis plus more for match day? About 7000 - 10000 that are involved in this operation across the league?
748 tested, but that's still less than 1 % percent, and if they keep testing every few days and isolating those who have it they should easily be able to keep a lid on things with numbers like this, to be remembered that Germany had positive tests too before they started up.
 

Sylar

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I think we need to see how this affects german league within a few weeks. If they all are fine / unaffected after a few weeks (or a month), then it shows the way forward and model to copy.

I do think England / PL are rushing it given the numbers weve seen (and not being able to answer all questions posed by people (eg Deeney)
I mean its good that theyve got stuff in place in terms of planning but they come off as wanting to push it as fast as possible rather than when its minimised every risk and ready.
 

Santoryo

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This is getting bizarre here. Did you genuinely think there wouldn't be infected footballers? How likely is that? The whole point of mass testing is to find them and isolate them. Just as they did in Germany. The league is continuing whether you like it or not. But we've been through this.
The sooner you realize some people have their agendas to pursue, the quicker you'll understand certain reactions. I mean it's quite obvious that 6 out of 700+ tested people is excellent news for project Restart. I'm quite sure and confident that people know that the point of these tests is to find out about positive cases, isolate them then treat them in time for when the league gets back which is about a month from now. But you'll still have people trying to paint this entire situation and bit of information as catastrophic news in order to push and get on with the agendas.
 

spiriticon

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We've literally had 313 pages thrashing over why you can't just take places as they are. That's why I ask :lol: :wenger:
Yeah i know. I mean, we can all speculate but I don't think there is a manner to end the season that pleases everybody. Whether you declare it null and void, whether you take current placings as final, or whether you have an average points per game, nobody knows for sure what the best solution is. The PL should just go for one of the options and make a decision.

The only thing I know for certain is that continuing on poses a very big health risk.
 

Sandikan

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Yeah i know. I mean, we can all speculate but I don't think there is a manner to end the season that pleases everybody. Whether you declare it null and void, whether you take current placings as final, or whether you have an average points per game, nobody knows for sure what the best solution is. The PL should just go for one of the options and make a decision.

The only thing I know for certain is that continuing on poses a very big health risk.
I jested earlier, but perhaps there is something to be said for some sort of playoffs to sort the critical issues out.
Rather than the nonsense of trying to get 20 teams playing 9-10 games each.
 

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Are all these PL tests affecting testing (namely speed of results) for the general public - most notably NHS/Care Homes/Key Workers?

I understand they're being privately done, but they must be using up Lab capacity that otherwise could be used for the above?
 

Finn MacCool

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Even though I’m still to be convinced that the PL will be able to make a “success” of Project Restart at the very least it will lay the groundwork and set a framework for the logistics of staging football BCD. Its likely that much, if not all, of next season depends on finding ways to co-exist with the virus. Today’s test results were bound to have some positives and if anything the low % of positive cases is encouraging. A long way to go yet but the first step was a good one.

Regrading Deeney and anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable training, or making a return to games, each person has a personal choice to make - in his case it’s perfectly understandable as his circumstances are risky to say the least. I applaud him for being so direct, open and honest in how he is thinking. Of course if large numbers of players feel the same then it’s likely to put an end to the project.

On the wider issue of why is football even considering starting up you have to think in terms of livelihoods. I don’t trust this govt to look after people whose jobs may disappear as a result of all this - considering they sent elderly patients with covid back into care homes just to say that “the nhs wasn’t overwhelmed” it’s unlikely they will have much sympathy for low paid workers.

Distilling top level football down to 22 millionaires kicking a ball on a patch of grass is a convenient way to forget about the thousands of “normal” folk with average or low wages whose jobs are linked to the game. We all focus a lot on wages, transfer fees, agents fees, ticket prices etc and they are all out of control and should be scrutinised but we sometimes forget that generally football is more a force for good than bad.
 

C'est Moi Cantona

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Are all these PL tests affecting testing (namely speed of results) for the general public - most notably NHS/Care Homes/Key Workers?

I understand they're being privately done, but they must be using up Lab capacity that otherwise could be used for the above?
Come on you can't be serious, they've just opened it up to everyone over 5 in the UK, I'm sure capacity can handle 700 PL tests every few days.

They're paying for it all, and they'll be falling over themselves to make sure they're not using any resources that will hold up any key workers results.
 

FootballHQ

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Burnley assistant manager is one who's tested positive apparently.
 

billdrama

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I guess one interesting point is whether players/coaching staff would have received this tests if the Premier League had been/was curtailed. The Burnley coach was apparently asymptomatic so presumably it would not have been picked up if he wasn't working in football and tested as a result. At this stage, it seems likely the virus is being picked up in the wider community (at least by some) rather than at the training ground considering they've only just returned and are meant to be socially distancing.

I think sometimes we probably go with our instincts rather than what the evidence actually suggests. I've heard many medical and scientific experts say that there's a much greater risk indoors than outdoors (hence people being allowed to meet someone from another household outside but not in) so even though football is a contact sport it is perhaps not quite the level of risk some people think. It's also been suggested that you are more vulnerable if you spend a prolonged period of time in close contact with someone carrying the virus (hence the tracking app letting you know if someone you were in close contact with for at least 10-15 minutes has got the virus). In general, players are probably close to a range of people but for limited spells of time.
 
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Tibs

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Come on you can't be serious, they've just opened it up to everyone over 5 in the UK, I'm sure capacity can handle 700 PL tests every few days.

They're paying for it all, and they'll be falling over themselves to make sure they're not using any resources that will hold up any key workers results.
Got my answer

Testing 'does not impinge' on NHS
For the Premier League to complete the season, it could require about 40,000 privately conducted tests.

The tests are being carried out by digital health company Prenetics.

Avi Lasarow, chief executive of Prenetics EMEA (Europe Middle East Africa), told BBC Sport that "categorically" none of the tests the company will carry out for the Premier League could have been used by the NHS.

"We of course do not impinge or take away from any testing the NHS is doing," he said.

"All the tests are privately sourced, as well as the other areas of the supply chains, so they are definitely not taking away from the NHS.

"The government has an infrastructure capability which has been developed to scale up to mass testing volume. It is very clear that we can now see that happening and as an organisation if we were asked to provide additional services we would prioritise that."

Lasarow added that the tests are 98.8% accurate, which will improve with repeated testing of Premier League personnel, and that the company is able to turn around results in 48 hours.
 

RobinLFC

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Deeney must already be very happy with his decision.
 

MAME DIOUF 32

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United players should do what they decide is right for themselves and their families. If that means not playing, I'm with them.
 

stevoc

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That's the one thing the govt have got right, they've scared people into thinking they will die if they leave their house. Law of averages some footballers were going to fall into that group.
They made the majority of the population realize they could die if they leave the house. Which is a good thing because that is the case.

And while we all know there is a risk a person could die any number of ways every time they leave the house. Thankfully most people aren’t just thinking about this solely from the selfish point of view of the risk to their own lives. Most will also appreciate that if they get the virus they will quite likely give it to others too.
 
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stevoc

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Even though I’m still to be convinced that the PL will be able to make a “success” of Project Restart at the very least it will lay the groundwork and set a framework for the logistics of staging football BCD. Its likely that much, if not all, of next season depends on finding ways to co-exist with the virus. Today’s test results were bound to have some positives and if anything the low % of positive cases is encouraging. A long way to go yet but the first step was a good one.

Regrading Deeney and anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable training, or making a return to games, each person has a personal choice to make - in his case it’s perfectly understandable as his circumstances are risky to say the least. I applaud him for being so direct, open and honest in how he is thinking. Of course if large numbers of players feel the same then it’s likely to put an end to the project.

On the wider issue of why is football even considering starting up you have to think in terms of livelihoods. I don’t trust this govt to look after people whose jobs may disappear as a result of all this - considering they sent elderly patients with covid back into care homes just to say that “the nhs wasn’t overwhelmed” it’s unlikely they will have much sympathy for low paid workers.

Distilling top level football down to 22 millionaires kicking a ball on a patch of grass is a convenient way to forget about the thousands of “normal” folk with average or low wages whose jobs are linked to the game. We all focus a lot on wages, transfer fees, agents fees, ticket prices etc and they are all out of control and should be scrutinised but we sometimes forget that generally football is more a force for good than bad.
Yeah Football restarting could well save a lot peoples jobs at clubs and maybe even other jobs connected to football and i hope it does.

Though we all know that wasn’t the primary concern behind this push to complete the PL season.
 

Red00012

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Gosh, I so shocked! Who would have predicted that??

Sad for Liverpool fans only, but this whole thing is a farce.

Just accept it's done for and start planning for next season.
6 out of over 700 is nothing unfortunately it’ll need more than that to stop the PL from resuming.
 

LVGSdive

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My point is there is just no way this can be contained within football over so many games.

There is guaranteed to be undetected asympomatic carriers who get into training and games and infect others, who then take it home. In fact its all the fears and points that Deeney raises above.

Also, because of infection, contact tracing and self isolation protocols, we will quickly reach a stage where it will be 'Everton U23's vs Stratford High School 1st XI (standing in for West Ham)' type scenario.
I completely agree with you. It might only be 6 out of 700. However, if Watford gets relegated now they can point to this as a disadvantage. They have employees who can't work and have to isolate. Other clubs have everyone passing and can work.

Then there's the individual player aspect of Deeney not wanting to play. Due to the risk that the virus could have on his son if he gets the coronavirus. He is one of if not their most important player.

I can see a lot of solicitors making a lot of money at the end of this season with all of the lawsuits from relegated clubs.
 

Finn MacCool

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Yeah Football restarting could well save a lot peoples jobs at clubs and maybe even other jobs connected to football and i hope it does.

Though we all know that wasn’t the primary concern behind this push to complete the PL season.
The return is for financial reasons, plain and simple. But if it does happen and that filters down to other people then that is something to be happy about. Plus the more money the PL can bring in during what could be a tough time for the game in general then I hope that some of it can be used to help stop EFL clubs from going bust.
 

sammsky1

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6 out of over 700 is nothing unfortunately it’ll need more than that to stop the PL from resuming.
It’s one thing to ‘resume’. It’ll be quite another feat to complete the league. I think there is very little chance of that happening.

PL games being played will lead to the virus being spread, there will be some hospitalisations and even deaths directly linked to the stupidity starting it up again and this whole thing will end in a fiasco of condemnation and law suits.
 
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sammsky1

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Football isn't just a game though...it's a business and it employs thousands of people, if not tens of thousands of people, not including the players or staff on hourly wages that support them.
Yes, football is an industry. Unfortunately some people will lose their jobs in the football industry, just like they will in every other industry.

Covid19 is shit and no person, organisation or Industry has immunity from its disastrous impact until we get a vaccine.
 
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Sad Chris

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The entitlement of thinking that the entire industry should not be back at work because a few individuals are uncomfortable with the situation. If I'm uncomfortable about going to the office, I wouldn't be asking my entire company to not open at all.
You keep speaking for everybody in general and are completely ignoring individual decisions that make sense. Both are not mutually exclusive. If I have concerns about my job that may touch the well-being of my family, it’s more than just ok to continue questioning the decision makers until they have answers that satisfy me.

And moaning about entitlement of wealthy footballers comes across as kind of bitter. Yes, even wealthy people have the right to choose and yes, their wealth gives them more options.
 

tentan

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They still actually want to restart the season? Just cancel it already.
 

Blackwidow

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The sooner you realize some people have their agendas to pursue, the quicker you'll understand certain reactions. I mean it's quite obvious that 6 out of 700+ tested people is excellent news for project Restart. I'm quite sure and confident that people know that the point of these tests is to find out about positive cases, isolate them then treat them in time for when the league gets back which is about a month from now. But you'll still have people trying to paint this entire situation and bit of information as catastrophic news in order to push and get on with the agendas.
The tests start now when the teams first start to exercise in little groups - so if you have players infected you only have to isolate the single player - in some days you might have to isolate the whole little group. I guess the last week the teams will go totally into team quarantine.

The whole concept for a club depends on the discipline of their players. Society opens again more or less - but the players (and their families) have still to live the way they had to during the recent weeks. If the players and staff stays disciplined the chances for everything working out fine is pretty well.
 

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dumbo

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Thread highlights:

Sanity: Safety should take priority over money concerns.
Tory-Liverpool fans: It's not about the money only sporting integrity and public morale.
Sanity: But there is a huge health risk in returning.
Tory-Liverpool fans: But Germany did it.
Sanity: Yes and Germany have handled this virus significantly better than the Tories.
Tory-Liverpool fans: How dare you insult the Tories, besides others are going back to work.
Sanity: Yes largely outside the non-essential entertainment industry, with social distance practices in place. Footballers are playing a contact sport.
Tory-Liverpool fans: But they get paid lots of money.
repeat ad nauseam
 

Man of Steel

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Once full training together starts and the bcd matches, it will only take one player to be positive, and then their full team, and possibly coaches, physios etc, and their families are quarantined right? Also teams they have just played against, and obviously had contact with will all have to quarantine for 14 days too right, and contact tracing for them too? Add to that the fact that infected players coaches etc may be not showing symptoms for days can be spreading it until the next round of tests.

If there is this kind of stop start for teams and games, how the heck can they schedule things and wouldn't fitness then drop even further for clubs and no training sessions. It will become even more of a farce than it already is, to be playing a 90 min contact sport right now or even in the months to come.

I'd be surprised if there were not more interuptions for one reason or another. Joke. Play golf instead.
 

lilcurt

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It’s one thing to ‘resume’. It’ll be quite another feat to complete the league. I think there is very little chance of that happening.

PL games being played will lead to the virus being spread, there will be some hospitalisations and even deaths directly linked to the stupidity starting it up again and this whole thing will end in a fiasco of condemnation and law suits.
The cynic in me thinks the Premier League just want to get enough games in to confirm Liverpool as champions and then if it has to be called off it can be.
 

Judas

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The cynic in me thinks the Premier League just want to get enough games in to confirm Liverpool as champions and then if it has to be called off it can be.
They care about money way more than fecking Liverpool, it wouldn't matter who was at the top, they're a desperate organisation that need to finish the season.
 

TheReligion

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That's the one thing the govt have got right, they've scared people into thinking they will die if they leave their house. Law of averages some footballers were going to fall into that group.
I don't understand this post. You're suggesting people are being over cautious during the pandemic and worrying too much?

Would prefer that mindset then the pockets of reckless behaviour we have seen during the lockdown.
 

Greck

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Once full training together starts and the bcd matches, it will only take one player to be positive, and then their full team, and possibly coaches, physios etc, and their families are quarantined right? Also teams they have just played against, and obviously had contact with will all have to quarantine for 14 days too right, and contact tracing for them too? Add to that the fact that infected players coaches etc may be not showing symptoms for days can be spreading it until the next round of tests.

If there is this kind of stop start for teams and games, how the heck can they schedule things and wouldn't fitness then drop even further for clubs and no training sessions. It will become even more of a farce than it already is, to be playing a 90 min contact sport right now or even in the months to come.

I'd be surprised if there were not more interuptions for one reason or another. Joke. Play golf instead.
Let's just hope the safety protocols are enough to contain spread in such a situation or football will be dead for the foreseeable future. Feel we should want this thing to succeed so we aren't looking at a 2021 or 2022 resumption. There's a bigger picture to look at and in a worst case scenario some of these players will be slammed with a harsh reality the first week they don't receive their paycheck. I can already see it, your local club's captain, coming to a tesco near you
 

sullydnl

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The cynic in me thinks the Premier League just want to get enough games in to confirm Liverpool as champions and then if it has to be called off it can be.
If they really want Liverpool to be champions then they can do what other leagues have done and name them champions. It's hardly the most pressing outstanding issue from their POV.
 

romufc

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Pay me 100k per week when my colleagues are being tested twice a week, and I'd be happy to have them within 10 cm of me. Not to mention when you have to use public transport at full capacity, social distancing kind of goes out of the window.
The problem is not the player.. it is the families. Most of these players will get mild symtoms as they are fit and healthy. But are their families being tested twice a week?