Potential Return of Football

[Thor]

The potential for football to return is earmarked for 6 June if the government assures the league it is safe to do so. The premier league would also return on the same date if assurances are given.

The Football League 'will return on June 6 if it safe to do so' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... e-masthead

[Bergen]

Lets hope so. But, I can`t see it happen I am afraid.

[Currywurst and Chips]

The potential for football to return is earmarked for 6 June if the government assures the league it is safe to do so. The premier league would also return on the same date if assurances are given.

The Football League 'will return on June 6 if it safe to do so' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... e-masthead

Listening to your (fantastic) interview with Danny Mack yesterday, it appears the overwhelming opinion amongst the League's CEO etc is that the season should be completed but more than likely behind closed doors

[Disoriented]

Lets hope so. But, I can`t see it happen I am afraid.

Have to agree, sadly.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

I think it will certainly return behind closed doors with the last couple of games perhaps being back to normal. It means the season gets finished and tv companies get more games and try to make up for the money they’ve lost.

Even if it is the case, I still don’t know how they are going to fit 10/11 games into one month before players contracts expire.

[Cheshunto]

The potential for football to return is earmarked for 6 June if the government assures the league it is safe to do so. The premier league would also return on the same date if assurances are given.

The Football League 'will return on June 6 if it safe to do so' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... e-masthead

Listening to your (fantastic) interview with Danny Mack yesterday, it appears the overwhelming opinion amongst the League's CEO etc is that the season should be completed but more than likely behind closed doors

Personally I think that 6th June is fine maybe for games behind closed doors, providing the players safety isn’t compromised.
Large gatherings ie crowds at games won’t happen before next season, in my opinion.
Maybe the club could provide live streams of the games with some concession for Season Ticket holders who probably won’t be able to use the tickets we still have for the last four games.
Still hard to think about Football while so many people are dying, in fact we have my own fathers funeral today, another victim of the virus.

[BIGRON]

The potential for football to return is earmarked for 6 June if the government assures the league it is safe to do so. The premier league would also return on the same date if assurances are given.

The Football League 'will return on June 6 if it safe to do so' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... e-masthead

Listening to your (fantastic) interview with Danny Mack yesterday, it appears the overwhelming opinion amongst the League's CEO etc is that the season should be completed but more than likely behind closed doors

Personally I think that 6th June is fine maybe for games behind closed doors, providing the players safety isn’t compromised.
Large gatherings ie crowds at games won’t happen before next season, in my opinion.
Maybe the club could provide live streams of the games with some concession for Season Ticket holders who probably won’t be able to use the tickets we still have for the last four games.
Still hard to think about Football while so many people are dying, in fact we have my own fathers funeral today, another victim of the virus.

So sorry to hear that mate , my condolences to you ☹

[cymruO]

will that mean some contracts will have to be extended - to finish off the season would mean running into July? Personally, at this stage of the virus' progress, especially in England I can't see 6th June being a starting date. We still haven't enough evidence that the number of cases has stopped going up, then the number of people needing hospital and critical care; and, sadly the number of deaths going down. Would it be safe to lift some or all restrictions while people are still dying. Should the deaths first stop? By the time they do, the evidence should be there that no one is catching the virus. Perhaps, as in Spain some restrictions could be lifted - in about 3-4 weeks' time, but I would have thought we would then need to make sure that this hideous virus can't kick in again - footballers on and off the field etc could become a vulnerable group.

[Disoriented]

The potential for football to return is earmarked for 6 June if the government assures the league it is safe to do so. The premier league would also return on the same date if assurances are given.

The Football League 'will return on June 6 if it safe to do so' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... e-masthead

6th June will indeed be D-Day.

[Thor]

The potential for football to return is earmarked for 6 June if the government assures the league it is safe to do so. The premier league would also return on the same date if assurances are given.

The Football League 'will return on June 6 if it safe to do so' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... e-masthead

Listening to your (fantastic) interview with Danny Mack yesterday, it appears the overwhelming opinion amongst the League's CEO etc is that the season should be completed but more than likely behind closed doors

Personally I think that 6th June is fine maybe for games behind closed doors, providing the players safety isn’t compromised.
Large gatherings ie crowds at games won’t happen before next season, in my opinion.
Maybe the club could provide live streams of the games with some concession for Season Ticket holders who probably won’t be able to use the tickets we still have for the last four games.
Still hard to think about Football while so many people are dying, in fact we have my own fathers funeral today, another victim of the virus.

Firstly my condolences to both you and your family at this time.

Kent said on the orient club cast part 2 that we are well placed to stream every game we play as we have possibly the best platform and best brains on streaming working in the club. I do beleive that you’re right that crowds won’t be back at football till next season and if and when football returns I’m sure we will have the opportunity to watch our team once more live and direct to our living rooms.

Best wishes for today and I hope everything goes as well as it can on such a day.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

6th June seems early as well considering that players haven't trained for 4-5 weeks. There's going to have to be a mini pre season, even if its 2 weeks, which will mean that within 4 weeks, they will have to be back training.

Heard a rumour that they were considering multiple games a week, with an increase in subs allowed during the game.

[LittleMate]

I think it will certainly return behind closed doors with the last couple of games perhaps being back to normal. It means the season gets finished and tv companies get more games and try to make up for the money they’ve lost.

Even if it is the case, I still don’t know how they are going to fit 10/11 games into one month before players contracts expire.

Big issues around players contracts.

PFA's barristers have said that the FIFA view of extending by 2 months to complete the season is unenforceable in the UK. Its just been highlighted in Rugby Union where Johnny May is returning to Gloucester from Leicester on 1 July. If, say, Willian has already agreed a move but it is unannounced then he's obligated to his new club. Any player with 9-10 games left on his contract will not want to risk injury with a new season so close behind either.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

I think it will certainly return behind closed doors with the last couple of games perhaps being back to normal. It means the season gets finished and tv companies get more games and try to make up for the money they’ve lost.

Even if it is the case, I still don’t know how they are going to fit 10/11 games into one month before players contracts expire.

Big issues around players contracts.

PFA's barristers have said that the FIFA view of extending by 2 months to complete the season is unenforceable in the UK. Its just been highlighted in Rugby Union where Johnny May is returning to Gloucester from Leicester on 1 July. If, say, Willian has already agreed a move but it is unannounced then he's obligated to his new club. Any player with 9-10 games left on his contract will not want to risk injury with a new season so close behind either.

Interesting. That also leads to issues around clubs in a relegation/promotion battle bringing in 20 new players on 2 month contracts to get them over the line. Will be interesting to see what happens.

[Top of the JES]

If they cannot extend players contracts until the current season ends then any player that moves to another club after June 30th but before the current season has finished should not be allowed to play in the competition.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

If they cannot extend players contracts until the current season ends then any player that moves to another club after June 30th but before the current season has finished should not be allowed to play in the competition.

Unless they change the transfer window...

That could also have the impact that some clubs, who might have 10-15 players out of contract dont have a team.

I guess they could meet in the middle and allow clubs to resign their out of contract players to a short extension, but they cannot sign any other players so the player either signs for 2 months more with their current club, or they cant play football.

[Omygawd]

The potential for football to return is earmarked for 6 June if the government assures the league it is safe to do so. The premier league would also return on the same date if assurances are given.

The Football League 'will return on June 6 if it safe to do so' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... e-masthead

Listening to your (fantastic) interview with Danny Mack yesterday, it appears the overwhelming opinion amongst the League's CEO etc is that the season should be completed but more than likely behind closed doors

Personally I think that 6th June is fine maybe for games behind closed doors, providing the players safety isn’t compromised.
Large gatherings ie crowds at games won’t happen before next season, in my opinion.
Maybe the club could provide live streams of the games with some concession for Season Ticket holders who probably won’t be able to use the tickets we still have for the last four games.
Still hard to think about Football while so many people are dying, in fact we have my own fathers funeral today, another victim of the virus.

So sorry to hear this. Please accept our condolences.

[EliotNes]

I still feel we won't be able to attend a game until after 3rd week of June. I think we could well be still locked down to an extent by then.

[StillSpike]

Can't see matches going ahead behind closed doors. Huge number of people would still need to be tested (even without a crowd). And what if one of those comes into contact with an infected person between the test and the match (unless they have to be sequestered away in quarantine). Just can't see it happening while the risk is high

[Thor]

There is a rumour of a transfer window being opened to allow clubs to sign players to replace players who will not extend their contracts which may have expired due to timings.

The players I would imagine have to balance off interest from other clubs over a short term contract whilst hoping not to get Injured this jeopardising their move to a new club. Alternatively, the players may have a stronger hand to utilise against their current club to secure a longer contract that may have been offered or secure one against not being offered one.

Lots of points to be resolved.

[Dunners]

Would just scrapping the season be the least complicated option now?

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Would just scrapping the season be the least complicated option now?

nah. i think you have to play it out. Promotions and relegations, especially in the prem/champ are worth so much money there would be legal battles for years.

[Ornchurch]

The more this goes on then the best option to me is to finish it now.

All of the options being discussed to complete the season, such as additional subs, playing all games at neutral venues and no VAR in the Prem, are going to impact the integrity of the season as much as not finishing it. And that is before getting on to contractual and other possible legal issues and the question of how clubs that have handed over their grounds to the NHS will be able to host games.
Any teams relegated at the end of a restarted unnatural conclusion to this season will feel as hard done by as those relegated now.

Call it now and let clubs prepare their pitches and stadiums in readiness to start a new season as planned in August and delay as necessary from then.

I personally would promote those teams in the promotion places, cancel relegation and write off the play-offs.

[StillSpike]

Or stop it where it is and declare promotions, relegations etc as they currently stand.

That's what the SPFL seems to be getting towards, despite some hilarious voting activity over the last few days. It would mean Raith Rovers getting promoted, so I'd be happy with that. SPFL dangling potential league restructuring (much needed) so it's possible the "relegations" wouldn't happen and the upper leagues expanded.

It's still complicated, but in my mind (obviously) better than just declaring it all null-and-void

[RedDwarf 1881]

The potential for football to return is earmarked for 6 June if the government assures the league it is safe to do so. The premier league would also return on the same date if assurances are given.

The Football League 'will return on June 6 if it safe to do so' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... e-masthead

I'm really missing all the football now so please God it does start again in June. I agree though that games will probably be played behind closed doors . All games will need to be streamed live.

[Thor]

Would just scrapping the season be the least complicated option now?

nah. i think you have to play it out. Promotions and relegations, especially in the prem/champ are worth so much money there would be legal battles for years.

Exactly this. I’ve read that the non league teams whose seasons have been cancelled are seeking legal advice with a potential law suit as clubs have wasted effectively thousands on getting promoted, getting the stadia up to standards required for the next level only to be denied. I think a big bag of worms may have been opened.