Club Statement: Coronavirus

[Yarrgh]

Yeah - I couldn't find a larger Asterix to put at the top of the post & for sure this is absolutely agenda focused, but at the same time FIFA have at least left the door a jar when it comes to the contract situation. I cannot see the clubs being legally forced to continue to be pay out of contract players, but at least the will have the option too, presumably on some sort of rolling mechanic until the season concludes if not voided. If you take chelsea for example; Pedro, Willian & Giroud are all out of contract at the end of the June, should the league continue into July, losing 3 of your forwards would seem particularly harsh.

All of the vested interests seem to be keen to facilitate this season coming to a conclusion across Europe & while my personal opinion is that void is the most likely outcome, I am becoming increasingly convinced that football as we know it is gone for a few years......

The "concentrate on next season in August" argument is start to dwindle as the realization, that this is probably unrealistic either way dawns. Where I think the Football Authorities are trying to get to, is a mindset that football continues when it is safe, it's paused when it's not. Taking this season out of the discussion, one of the big fears for everyone commercially involved would be a second suspension next winter (assuming there is football in between) and the need for another void season. To void once, would be harsh on harsh on some, but understandable in such circumstances, to do it twice would damage the game beyond repair. It would devalue the game massively across the globe & fans would be questioning the point in watching a game in September, if the likelyhood of a conclusion to a season is beyond doubt.

Ultimately, we are going into an 18 month period of severe changes to the football cycles, we already have a Euros delayed 12 months, extra internationals to play which don't have dates, a WC in the middle of Winter in a desert and no certainty about if this season will be concluded or when next season will kick off.

With all of this ambiguity, contracts will also need flexibility, including broadcasting, player contracts and timetables. FIFA, UEFA and the leagues all seem to be beginning to set the wheels in motion to facilitate this & while my guess is only as good as anyone else's I think football will become far more liquid with Transfer windows, season structures and dates and major tournaments having to move around to facilitate pauses through winter, more delays, possibly legal disputes and more congestion to calendars.

I couldn't find a trophy with a larger Asterix than this.

 

[number4.]

Yes some good points in there.

You did put an asterik, which was a good thing to do, I just thought I'd re-enforce it slightly. I think a lot of the journalism at this point has been really below par. 90%+ of it is not even in the right ballpark for what needs to be asked and discussed. The sensationalism rather than critical analysis isn't helpful. It's just going to mean that one particular fanbase get massively annoyed if the season is voided. I doubt the Hughes's care, but I do, we have a moral responsibility not to wind people up unduly in widely read publications.

As for the rest, there's a fair bit of supposition. I suspect we have a vaccine by next winter, and I also think we have learnt a lot more about the illness. However you are right to raise the potential of other difficulties. I also agree with you that we don't want to damage further seasons. Starting next season late really, really risks that. It's not a prudent risk football should take.

I am a realist, and don't doubt sacrifices will have to come. My perspective is that more of a focus has to be given to next season. Planning needs to be being done for that now. I also think that if we are going to make changes, and alterations, this can only really be done in any sort of a fair way if it's done with a fresh competition. Introducing changes within a season is extremely unfair and ethically wrong.

I think football really needs to start signposting better. We need clarity at this point. The seasons should be voided now, and options discussed about how we can try to repeat next season. Hopefully consent and agreement can be sort from all 2 clubs that this may involve finishing behind closed doors. Once we all know where we are heading, those discussions are easier. All we are doing now is wasting time.

As a final point on the contracts, I do think more thought needs to be given to it than that. Who is paying for these extensions? I don't think you can allow some teams to have an extension, and others not. Secondly we need to consider how we are going to convince players who have better offers on the table to stay at an existing club, without being financially penalised. This needs agreement to be gained. We need to know where that money is coming from. Who is paying for all of this?

If it's a choice between Everton having to pay the likes of Niasse for months to come, or not, it's an easy option what we should go for. If we have to keep Niasse, I want to know who's funding that before I agree, as you can be as sure as hell we shouldn't be.

Journalists - you are right- there is a lot of hyperbole at the moment, but then again when you are trying to keep you're publication alive with no sport, it's understandable why many are resorting to it.

Supposition - it's all we have at the moment sadly.

Focus on next Season - i agree, it is probably the best way forward, but I don't think it is realistic at the moment. In the last few mins the R&A have cancelled the Open, rather than rescheduling in September which was the initial plan. There is a sense on limbo within football at the moment; no one can blink with regards to this season. TV companies want to get it played as they have paid for it; leagues at least need to show the optics of intent to play it as they don't want the risk of the TV bill & UEFA want to maintain the CL and any significant reshuffle exposes them to more risk of a superleague evolving. Until is becomes impossible to play they will resist the need to void. We are simply not there yet.

Contracts - using the chelsea example, I would hope the option is same pay til completed. Players and agents will use any opportunity, including a pandemic to strengthen their position as would the clubs; but if Willian has signed a pre contract for next season at Everton (hypothetically), presumably Chelsea could not force him to play & he would remain unavailable to Everton for the remaining games this season in the unlikely event they get played.

 

[Nymzee]

You're right, I shouldn't have engaged with it. Apologies to the majority on here.....

Kiss arse

 

[Simon Buttle]

I think we have to be careful what massive Kopite Simon Hughes says. There is a massive agenda within the media to wanting the season to be extended. This at times fluctuates between the inept and bordering the corrupt in the lack of honest, credible reporting. The fact we have had, every couple of days different leaks about playing behind closed doors, almost as an attempt to de-sensitise supporters to the dangers and ethical concerns it would bring is symptomatic of this.

However onto the substance. I don't see an awful lot here. The De Facto end date has moved about a month back to end of July/start of August. This to be is just FIFA washing their hands of any responsibility and fairly placing litigation challenges at the hands of UEFA and competing associations.

As for the "just extend the contracts" this shows the journalists complete misunderstanding of how contracts work. You can't unilaterally just extend contracts. There has to be agreement. What should be being said, is that efforts will be made to seek assurances on how to extend contracts.

My overarching feeling, is we are ripping up the entire football calendar, the transfer window system, the whole eco structure which has taken years to perfect and which there was absolutely no demand to change on the basis of pursuing an end of season circus which may not even be permissible. You'd hope at some point, somebody in the media would have the decency, integrity and bravery to reflect this truth.

Was a lawyer on the radio the other day talking about this and he said the reason these talks are so complicated are because you can't just "extend player contracts" it really does'nt work like that. He said whilst UEFA and FIFA have lots of power and control and can obviously change any rules and setup within the game they don't have power over contracts as contracts are law. He was using a fair bit of legal speak and terms of which i can't say i really understand tbh, i have been trying to look myself the last few days and learn a bit. Another thing i think some of the kopites seem to forget is that both FIFA and UEFA hate the PL so i doubt they are going to be in any kind of hurry to do it any favours.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Kiss arse

He's just desperate to hang on in here, until Liverpool get the title, then he'll post pictures of the flag he's made specially for the occasion.

 

[matty1878]

Matty thinks, and rightly so, that football shouldn't be played again until it is safe to do so, which could be mid summer, and way past any reasonable timescale to pick up an incomplete, mathematically open season that will have, by that point, been on hold for almost half the length of an entire season.

But this guy is talking about playing the remainder of the games at any given future opportunity and keeping the league open indefinitely, until his team gets the title they are desperate for.

There seems to be a couple on here that are compelled to argue the case of why next season should take precedent of this 1, without seeming to understand that any season, or any annual event for that matter, is planned to take part in a given time frame to capture a moment in time.

It's unfortunate that it has happened as it has, but the season is already tainted. People are literally dying. There should be a decision to end it and focus attempts on people getting better and looking forward, not back.

this.

 

[blueblue]

Was a lawyer on the radio the other day talking about this and he said the reason these talks are so complicated are because you can't just "extend player contracts" it really does'nt work like that. He said whilst UEFA and FIFA have lots of power and control and can obviously change any rules and setup within the game they don't have power over contracts as contracts are law. He was using a fair bit of legal speak and terms of which i can't say i really understand tbh, i have been trying to look myself the last few days and learn a bit. Another thing i think some of the kopites seem to forget is that both FIFA and UEFA hate the PL so i doubt they are going to be in any kind of hurry to do it any favours.

I agree completely with the point of footballing authorities not having the power to extend a legal agreement such as a players contract.
I would add that clubs will not want to incur the expense of paying players who are leaving the club anyway for a day longer than they absolutely have to... can they choose to extend one but maybe not another to use Niasse and Stekelenburg as examples?

Will players who have deals in place with new clubs risk their new contract if they get injured during the extension to the old contract, is the new club still committed to the new contract if the player gets injured playing under the contract extension ?

 

[number4.]

Matty thinks, and rightly so, that football shouldn't be played again until it is safe to do so, which could be mid summer, and way past any reasonable timescale to pick up an incomplete, mathematically open season that will have, by that point, been on hold for almost half the length of an entire season.

But this guy is talking about playing the remainder of the games at any given future opportunity and keeping the league open indefinitely, until his team gets the title they are desperate for.

There seems to be a couple on here that are compelled to argue the case of why next season should take precedent of this 1, without seeming to understand that any season, or any annual event for that matter, is planned to take part in a given time frame to capture a moment in time.

It's unfortunate that it has happened as it has, but the season is already tainted. People are literally dying. There should be a decision to end it and focus attempts on people getting better and looking forward, not back.

really fair points Kever & firstly, I doubt there is anyone on here who thinks football should be played before it is safe to do so. Your estimate of mid summer seems realistic and hopefully we will see some football by then & personally, I think if it gets to that point for sure this season will end up voided. If it goes on and presumably Liverpool don't pull off the most unbelievable bottle job of all time it will undoubtedly be tainted, although inevitably they will say otherwise.

what I have argued however....
1) Any form of void league is not straight forward, there will be legal disputes around TV, relegation, promotion, European spots & the titles across the 4 leagues.

2) all authorities are continuing to stick with the "show must go on" line; there are many on here saying it will be voided in the next few days, going back to mid March. My point has always been that that wont be the case, should it end up void, I don't think it is a decision that will come soon, but as the tide turns we get closer.

3) the lets get on with next season argument is not realistic. We are in unprecedented times & lots of evidence indicates we will be for some time; to argue void this year to make next year normal just doesn't add up for me

 

[Billysgingham.]

really fair points Kever & firstly, I doubt there is anyone on here who thinks football should be played before it is safe to do so. Your estimate of mid summer seems realistic and hopefully we will see some football by then & personally, I think if it gets to that point for sure this season will end up voided. If it goes on and presumably Liverpool don't pull off the most unbelievable bottle job of all time it will undoubtedly be tainted, although inevitably they will say otherwise.

what I have argued however....
1) Any form of void league is not straight forward, there will be legal disputes around TV, relegation, promotion, European spots & the titles across the 4 leagues.

2) all authorities are continuing to stick with the "show must go on" line; there are many on here saying it will be voided in the next few days, going back to mid March. My point has always been that that wont be the case, should it end up void, I don't think it is a decision that will come soon, but as the tide turns we get closer.

3) the lets get on with next season argument is not realistic. We are in unprecedented times & lots of evidence indicates we will be for some time; to argue void this year to make next year normal just doesn't add up for me

You could of condensed that to the last 6 words really.

 

[number4.]

You could of condensed that to the last 6 words really.

"just void now" wont happen soon

 

[matty1878]

"just void now" wont happen soon

your right. It won’t as they haven’t made the decision as of yet. It will tho it will.

 

[number4.]

your right. It won’t as they haven’t made the decision as of yet. It will tho it will.

This time last week (Tuesday) you were saying it will be voided really soon? Some flip

 

[Wat Tyler]

The government hinted that they’re going to ease the lockdown by the end of May, so the PL will jump on that time as a window of opportunity, they’ll offer all kinds of safeguarding promises to the government (no fans etc.) the government will agree (because let’s not forget they were still going to have us playing until the clubs themselves pulled out), and the Clubs will then squeeze as many games as they can into the following weeks, I can see next season the League Cup being swerved, the European games being a lot closer together (not three weeks apart,) and other international breaks being swerved.

Just my opinion, I don’t know for sure obviously. But If and when it does come back, the integrity of the league will be gone, it’s a guarantee you will see one club come flying out the traps, someone like Norwich might really benefit from it and stay up.

 

[firefighterblue]

The government hinted that they’re going to ease the lockdown by the end of May, so the PL will jump on that time as a window of opportunity, they’ll offer all kinds of safeguarding promises to the government (no fans etc.) the government will agree (because let’s not forget they were still going to have us playing until the clubs themselves pulled out), and the Clubs will then squeeze as many games as they can into the following weeks, I can see next season the League Cup being swerved, the European games being a lot closer together (not three weeks apart,) and other international breaks being swerved.

Just my opinion, I don’t know for sure obviously. But If and when it does come back, the integrity of the league will be gone, it’s a guarantee you will see one club come flying out the traps, someone like Norwich might really benefit from it and stay up.

Might be before the end of May
Austria just announced they will let shops open next week followed by bars and restaurants. Denmark announcing what they will do this week. Sweden had shops bars etc already open same as Australia. So things could change in a month

 

[4737carlin]

Might be before the end of May
Austria just announced they will let shops open next week followed by bars and restaurants. Denmark announcing what they will do this week. Sweden had shops bars etc already open same as Australia. So things could change in a month

Isnt that more though to help economy's? We might do it in a months time but still cant see football being safe or wise