Is there ‘fixing’ at the top of football?

[stony]

Just look at how many top flight refs have taken a sudden sabbatical, early retirement, or gone to new leagues. Peter Walton springs to mind. One of your own and bent as a nine bob note.

 

[WA Toffee]

Am sure I read somewhere a while ago that the "formula" used for establishing the season's fixture includes something along the lines of - the "Sky 6" cannot play each other during the first 6 games of a season or the last 6. This is a means of giving them all the opportunity of a fast start, and then ensures they each have the best possible chance of winning games at the back end of the season to maintain interest!

Haven't got the time or incination to check it out historically myself but it would, to a degree at least, confirm @Groucho alleged suspicions/thoughts/questions allegedly!

It has been published that prior to each seasons draw, as well as the usual considerations such as local rivals are not home the same weekend, avoid clashing with other major events, police requirements etc, each club is allowed to put in any specific requests they have and it will be put into the computer as long as there was no conflicting request. One example used was RS always asked for the second derby away, we didnt make any request so it was programmed to happen.

I think it is not so much corruption, just some clubs using the rules to their advantage better than others

 

[Eggs]

...definitely.

 

[bol-uk]

It has been published that prior to each seasons draw, as well as the usual considerations such as local rivals are not home the same weekend, avoid clashing with other major events, police requirements etc, each club is allowed to put in any specific requests they have and it will be put into the computer as long as there was no conflicting request. One example used was RS always asked for the second derby away, we didnt make any request so it was programmed to happen.

I think it is not so much corruption, just some clubs using the rules to their advantage better than others

Did they though? Surely not. It was either coincidence that it happened so many times or the FA wanted it but I do not think clubs can ask for things like this, not even the tin hatters would think this is true would they?

 

[bol-uk]

Derby’s falling together for me isn’t a biggie, although obviously when taken with everything else the media influence is sickening.

Influencing cup draws and referees is more henious in my mind.

A few weeks ago we had the mersey derby, arsenal v spurs and chelsea v fulham on the same day, I thought that was very dodgy personally, Traditionally they are all the biggest of rivals.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

A few weeks ago we had the mersey derby, arsenal v spurs and chelsea v fulham on the same day, I thought that was very dodgy personally, Traditionally they are all the biggest of rivals.

Isn’t that just down to the tv deal with Sky though, rearranging games, like when a game is moved from a Saturday to a Monday for the telly?

 

[WA Toffee]

Did they though? Surely not. It was either coincidence that it happened so many times or the FA wanted it but I do not think clubs can ask for things like this, not even the tin hatters would think this is true would they?

tis true. There was an article in the papers where the fixture setters were interviewed and they were quite open about it. If Everton had requested the same thing, then it wouldn't have been pre-programmed, but because they asked for it and we didn't care, it became part of the program

 

[WA Toffee]

Did they though? Surely not. It was either coincidence that it happened so many times or the FA wanted it but I do not think clubs can ask for things like this, not even the tin hatters would think this is true would they?

I cant find the specific link that mentioned this, but here's a couple which show it is not completely random

https://www.premierleague.com/news/419044
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&sou...aw24evpzInX6tEifSo9H4bps&ust=1545475686077684

 

[bol-uk]

Isn’t that just down to the tv deal with Sky though, rearranging games, like when a game is moved from a Saturday to a Monday for the telly?

Yes but all three on the same weekend.

 

[WA Toffee]

Yes but all three on the same weekend.

Given the money involved, sky will have major input into scheduling. It won't be anything sinister to help certain teams, just commercial interest to boost ratings on certain weekends throughout the season.

Regardless, every team plays each other home and away once per season.

 

[ToffeeDan]

I'm sure Liverpool don't need much help to win these days but Craig 'eight straight wins for the Big Six' Pawson won't be a sight for sore eyes either..

 

[dead_soft]

Yes but all three on the same weekend.

Why wouldn’t they? It allows for a great marketing opportunity

 

[bol-uk]

Why wouldn’t they? It allows for a great marketing opportunity

Obvisouly, it just confirms that there is fixing of fixtures

 

[Kenshin]

I've always thought there is fixing over ffp between club's on a small scale.

For example Chelsea buying david Luiz back for 56 million seemed to serve psgs bank balance rather than because Chelsea really wanted him back. It's not large scale obviously but there is odd transfers between the big club's that happen, loaning big players for example or player 'trading' that seems to defy transfer logic.

 

[dead_soft]

Obvisouly, it just confirms that there is fixing of fixtures

But it’s not hidden or a conspiracy, it’s explicitly stated that football matches are moved for TV.
It’s like stating that setlists at concerts are fixed