[Football] Premier League / Football League attempts to finish the season

[GT49er]

But wouldn't cancelling (i.e. voiding) represent the biggest rule-change of all? Every single regulation regarding promotion, relegation, CL qualification and the Premier League Crown would be torn up.

No they won't. Promotion to the PL is by invitation, voted for by the PL clubs and nobody else. Normally promotion goes through on the nod, of course, but there is no legal obligation on the PL clubs to vote any new clubs in.

 

[METALMICKY]

Once again the ridiculous anti liverpool element surfaces. I too would void the season but not to enjoy the best teams misfortune.

Not at all. My remark did have a serious point. Check out some areas of social media to see the mindless reasoning from some Liverpool fans. They fully deserved to win the league but this virus is a lot bigger than football an their silly boasting rights.

 

[Alba Badger]

What makes you think all of the problems will be solved by September 1st? We're going to have to live with coronavirous for a while yet and accept there is going to be some level of risk, just like there is some level of risk every time you open your front door. The rick has to be at amanageable and acceptable level but as we are going to have to start to reopen our economy to avoid an even grester catastrophe further down the line of the country slipping from what already will be a long and deep recession into a depression.

Hopefully, possibly optimistically in 7 weeks time the death toll, infections and hospitalisations will be significantly lower than today. Look how far things have developed in the last 7 weeks, it is important we try to get back to some semblance of normaility, in sport and in the economy and society in general within the social distancing guidelines.

I'm not saying all issues will be sorted by September 1st. I just gave it as a date to try and start next season if it is safe to do so. I doubt we'll be in to see a game, as fans this side of Christmas.

 

[Lincoln Imp]

No they won't. Promotion to the PL is by invitation, voted for by the PL clubs and nobody else. Normally promotion goes through on the nod, of course, but there is no legal obligation on the PL clubs to vote any new clubs in.

I accept your point of course but the assumption that finishing in one of the top three Championship places leads to promotion is so widely held and universally applied that it can reasonably be regarded as 'a rule' in the context.

(I'm actually nearly on your side on this - I prefer voiding to a dog's-breakfast behind-doors although feel that early completion is even better, not least because it is likely to lead to less ruinous conflicts with commercial partners.)

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I’m now firmly of the view the season should be binned. No titles, promotion, relegation etc, just write it off and start the new season as and when we can. Whilst people are still dying in their hundreds it seems rather crass, desperate, disrespectful and lacking in self-awareness to plot to finish this season. It’s also distracting for the government and the health workers who will need to be involved; I’d rather they focus and direct their time and resources elsewhere at the moment.

We’re all having to make sacrifices, it’s unfortunate but it’s the common sense decision.

 

[jamie the seagull]

If the season is Null and Void then I shall assume my season ticket for said season is the same and look forward to a full refund.
Premier League probably hoping the Government act in the same way as the French did yesterday taking the decision out of their hands and Sky can't blame the PL.
Should be either PPG (Points Per Game) or take it back one match day to Week 28 (so all teams have played 28 games) and award Title, Relegation and European Places from there.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

But wouldn't cancelling (i.e. voiding) represent the biggest rule-change of all? Every single regulation regarding promotion, relegation, CL qualification and the Premier League Crown would be torn up.

Similarly playing behind closed doors - most of the established and accepted arrangements for actually playing games would be put in the bin, along with the ancient concepts of home and away advantage.

In many ways, the least disruptive answer is to end the season now, not voiding or cancelling but prematurely ending. The main practical difficulties of this involve (a) deciding the third promotion place if you're not having any more games and (b) the likelihood of legal action from relegated clubs. (b) is easily dealt with but (a) is the problem.

Voiding the season is not a rule change to the competition. It’s merely confirming it can’t be completed

 

[LamieRobertson]

If the season is Null and Void then I shall assume my season ticket for said season is the same and look forward to a full refund.
Premier League probably hoping the Government act in the same way as the French did yesterday taking the decision out of their hands and Sky can't blame the PL.
Should be either PPG (Points Per Game) or take it back one match day to Week 28 (so all teams have played 28 games) and award Title, Relegation and European Places from there.

You would really want a total refund? Just out of curiosity who do you think should foot the bill for everyone getting a refund

 

[crodonilson]

You would really want a total refund? Just out of curiosity who do you think should foot the bill for everyone getting a refund

Some people may feel they are entitled to one, if you went to a single game and saw three quarters of it and the game was abandoned and did not reach its full conclusion most would expect a full refund for that game.

 

[Is it PotG?]

Some people may feel they are entitled to one, if you went to a single game and saw three quarters of it and the game was abandoned and did not reach its full conclusion most would expect a full refund for that game.

Even if you were gladly marching off to the station at 75 mins?

 

[LamieRobertson]

Some people may feel they are entitled to one, if you went to a single game and saw three quarters of it and the game was abandoned and did not reach its full conclusion most would expect a full refund for that game.

Stakes are a tad higher..and i think the second part is the relevant bit ...as i said out of curiosity and the realisation over what that means for the football club

 

[GT49er]

Once again the ridiculous anti liverpool element surfaces. I too would void the season but not to enjoy the best teams misfortune.

Absolutely this. The scouse-hatred gets quite embarrassing at times. Not NSC's finest moments.

 

[GT49er]

I accept your point of course but the assumption that finishing in one of the top three Championship places leads to promotion is so widely held and universally applied that it can reasonably be regarded as 'a rule' in the context.

Not a rule, or not law anyway. A convention, or a tradition, whatever, but not enshrined in law. So not legally enforceable - there would be no case to answer, and no grounds for legal action..

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Not a rule, or not law anyway. A convention, or a tradition, whatever, but not enshrined in law. So not legally enforceable - there would be no case to answer, and no grounds for legal action..

I think promotion is by invitation not obligation.

 

[crodonilson]

I’m now firmly of the view the season should be binned. No titles, promotion, relegation etc, just write it off and start the new season as and when we can. Whilst people are still dying in their hundreds it seems rather crass, desperate, disrespectful and lacking in self-awareness to plot to finish this season. It’s also distracting for the government and the health workers who will need to be involved; I’d rather they focus and direct their time and resources elsewhere at the moment.

We’re all having to make sacrifices, it’s unfortunate but it’s the common sense decision.

Just out of interest what are your views on the German league restarting in a few weeks??

 

[Weststander]

Even if you were gladly marching off to the station at 75 mins?

Do supporters stay that late thesedays?

 

[essbee1]

Just out of interest what are your views on the German league restarting in a few weeks??

Not sure that will happen now with the second wave in Germany. So, Crodo - a non-starter here mate.

 

[Eeyore]

Latest news from Germany now makes we wonder if this season is over.

 

[darkwolf666]

Just out of interest what are your views on the German league restarting in a few weeks??

Butting in on your conversation, I don’t think it’s anywhere near a definite that it will restart at the end of May. I think the German football league are being shown to take positive action, and have put the ball, so to speak, firmly in the government’s court, forcing them to make a decision.

Opinion is divided within the German public as to whether football should return so soon.

IF and it’s a big if, football resumes at the end of May, I would be surprised if it goes without a hitch, and wouldn’t be surprised if it got suspended again!

 

[crodonilson]

Butting in on your conversation, I don’t think it’s anywhere near a definite that it will restart at the end of May. I think the German football league are being shown to take positive action, and have put the ball, so to speak, firmly in the government’s court, forcing them to make a decision.

Opinion is divided within the German public as to whether football should return so soon.

IF and it’s a big if, football resumes at the end of May, I would be surprised if it goes without a hitch, and wouldn’t be surprised if it got suspended again!

Whilst I am pro the league starting and I know you are anti I do agree it will be surprising if it doesn't go without a hitch somewhere, I guess the chances of restarting in Germany are slimming with a prospect of another lockdown which would naturally mean the chances are recding here too but IF it does begin then I guess with the likelehood the PL will be 2/3 weeks behind in restarting at least we may be able to learn from the way Germany goes about it and its relative success and failures. Also I think we can nearly all agree we want next season to happen on some shape or form and again, getting the current season finished over the summer should help inform the best way forward of how we can make next season as succesful and as fair as it can be.