Club Statement: Coronavirus

[PM123]

It's not reasonable to expect the whole of the football world goes on standby, at enormous cost to allow a single side indefinite opportunity to potentially win a trophy.

But that's your interpretation of why it might overrun so far. The whole of the football world IS on standby, not waiting to "gift" Liverpool the title, but indefinitely until we're in a safe environment once more.

As distasteful as you find Liverpool supporters suggesting the season should be completed whenever, it's equally distasteful all the opposition still clamouring for the season to be "voided immediately with no positions finalised".

Who cares what happens; leave it to the authorities to sort out as and when. If it's all voided with no positions finalised, fine. If they decide to compete this season whenever (3 months, 6 months, 1 year, etc.), fine. If it's void and fix all positions as are, fine. If it's use a simulator to decide the final positions, fine.

I have a partner who has 3 of the conditions that render her in the high-risk category, so is housebound for 12 weeks minimum. I have a father in a more precarious position than that.

Whether Liverpool fans are celebrating winning, being awarded or even gifted the title, who cares? Whether Everton, Utd, City, etc. fans are all celebrating Liverpool not winning the title, who cares?

By the time we're out of this unprecedented situation, we'll be lucky not to have lost any relatives or loved ones.

Football can wait until FAR greater issues are resolved and constantly banging the drum about what is or isn't morally the right thing to do to "preserve the integrity of the football league", from both ends of the spectrum, is crass at best!

Stay safe; peace out.

 

[degsy]

1) Still can't see 20/21 starting until 19/20 outcome is clear - they co-exist
2) If 19/20 is voided, there will be legal challenges, which will be far far slower than completing the season, which is why I think ultimately they will complete, even if football isn't back for 12 months from now.

Fair point, it only takes one to put it through the courts and its all up in the air

 

[Brisan123]

yes I agree with Barry Horne. We have to put things
in their proper perspective.

This means more ,really doesn't in the circumstances

 

[Mark barnett]

Voiding is an option, it just would be a last resort.

The virus will dictate when football starts again.

I think they will reduce the fixture list next season teams may only play each other once in the league and complete this one by december.

 

[jaycee]

I think they will reduce the fixture list next season teams may only play each other once in the league and complete this one by december.

Again,why would teams,Sky,BT,sponsors,players agree to halve a season

 

[number4.]

Again,why would teams,Sky,BT,sponsors,players agree to halve a season

i think it is all about when it's agreed. You can negotiate a one off 19 game season in advance, but I dont think you can tell your paymasters after the horse has bolted.

 

[jaycee]

i think it is all about when it's agreed. You can negotiate a one off 19 game season in advance, but I dont think you can tell your paymasters after the horse has bolted.

But who in their right mind,considering the game is money obsessed,is going to agree to losing half of their income? Two people have suggested it as if its a normal thing,it is daft,like doing weekend overtime then only working a 2 day week after it

 

[number4.]

But who in their right mind,considering the game is money obsessed,is going to agree to losing half of their income? Two people have suggested it as if its a normal thing,it is daft,like doing weekend overtime then only working a 2 day week after it

its not about losing half your income, its about maximising the limited time you may have given the current football blackout. ie working Friday, Saturday & Sunday as you were sick for the first half of the week. It's not as much pay, but far better than just waiting till Monday week to go back.

 

[woomy]

The more I think about this the more I dont actually give a damn what they do. Finish, cancel, delay, change the regular timetable. Over it. Normally in the hospital I work it is football this and football that. Now nobody can be arsed with it. Even Liverpool fans. Whatever decision is taken I dont actually think many will care. It will be a hollow victory for whoever wins each league/title in all sports.
It will be great when all sport is back properly. The atmosphere will be something else in every stadia. But this season is just a nothing season. For pretty much all sport. The true celebration will just be to be to get going again

 

[jaycee]

its not about losing half your income, its about maximising the limited time you may have given the current football blackout. ie working Friday, Saturday & Sunday as you were sick for the first half of the week. It's not as much pay, but far better than just waiting till Monday week to go back.

So you're saying that tv companies,sponsors,advertisers are not going to be bothered about only half a season getting played? But will demand money back for the lose of the rest of this season,why would anybody agree to that,it makes absolutely no sense,just repeating it doesnt make it sensible

 

[number4.]

So you're saying that tv companies,sponsors,advertisers are not going to be bothered about only half a season getting played? But will demand money back for the lose of the rest of this season,why would anybody agree to that,it makes absolutely no sense,just repeating it doesnt make it sensible

Of course im not, every party will be bothered.

What I am saying is when the Virus hopefully passes and football is back on the agenda, nothing will be off the agenda to get the cadence of seasons back on track. If a 19 game "mini season" over four months is part of those discussions it absolutely wouldn't surprise me & I am sure the TV companies, would pay for this product, but obviously not the full amount as per a 38 game season.

 

[bluenorthwarrior]

Of course im not, every party will be bothered.

What I am saying is when the Virus hopefully passes and football is back on the agenda, nothing will be off the agenda to get the cadence of seasons back on track. If a 19 game "mini season" over four months is part of those discussions it absolutely wouldn't surprise me & I am sure the TV companies, would pay for this product, but obviously not the full amount as per a 38 game season.

Struggling to see the logic in this.

If for argument's sake a 19 game season needs 14 weeks, and to finish 19/20 needs 6 weeks. If 20 weeks are available why not use it all to maximise the new season rather than play out the remnants of a long since paused season where teams, players and even managers may not be who or what they were before the pause.

Better for example to play the 19 games and then use the 6 weeks for cups so teams and fans who are not going to win the league have something to play for in this new season, or a form of play-offs with the top 10 and bottom 10 replaying each other etc. Not a suggested format but point is loads of things could be done to maximise whatever time is available for 20/21.

Using the 6 weeks to finish an increasingly distant 19/20 season would feel like a waste of time for 60% of the teams, or 80% if there is no euro club games to try and qualify for in a truncated 20/21.

 

[number4.]

Struggling to see the logic in this.

If for argument's sake a 19 game season needs 14 weeks, and to finish 19/20 needs 6 weeks. If 20 weeks are available why not use it all to maximise the new season rather than play out the remnants of a long since paused season where teams, players and even managers may not be who or what they were before the pause.

Better for example to play the 19 games and then use the 6 weeks for cups so teams and fans who are not going to win the league have something to play for in this new season, or a form of play-offs with the top 10 and bottom 10 replaying each other etc. Not a suggested format but point is loads of things could be done to maximise whatever time is available for 20/21.

Using the 6 weeks to finish an increasingly distant 19/20 season would feel like a waste of time for 60% of the teams, or 80% if there is no euro club games to try and qualify for in a truncated 20/21.

Indeed - you could very well be right - but as it stands the primary goal is to conclude 19/20; if this changes then I would tend to agree with you.

but as per your 20 week example above. I don't believe you can just "get on" with the 20/21 season, IM(very)HO this would be awash with legal challenges and a lack of clarity about TV revenue, which would cause more delays than the 6 weeks to wrap up this year.

 

[Brisan123]

Assuming everything is void, I would have very little doubt that Leeds & WBA would be fighting their case, I would suspect SUFC & MUFC would consider their options & i can guarantee you multiple clubs (probably collectively) would be taking legal action if they were forced to return TV money (circa $200m per club). Can you imagine Sullivan, Gold and co just handing back that kinda money and saying "fair enough"

This is a global crisis and frankly, football is utterly irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, but when this eventually passes, no matter much damage is done, the same grubby, self motivated greed will sadly prevail after in football & that's why despite the moral shame, I am sure the legal route will be taken by some, if not many. All we can hope is the society in general changes, but shame is not something to stop football club owners.

Perhaps CAS or someone similar might be able to pre-empt the legal challenges with some sort of "all decisions to restart football" are final.

Only by those who believe This means more

 

[Brisan123]

I think television companies will take a practical view of this. Sport was halted through no fault of anybody.

A new season starting for sports starved supporters is exactly what they would want.

The injustice of Liverpool maybe not being able to finish out the season and the question if they could repeat the feat would just heighten the drama.

At the end of the day it will all come to money for each individual club... I doubt that too many will stress over Liverpool not being able to win the title on the pitch.

Not quite the word I would have used