PREMIER LEAGUE AND CORONAVIRUS: IS VOIDING THE LEAGUE THE ONLY OPTION?

It’s no understatement to say the coronavirus pandemic has thrown the footballing world for a loop. These are completely unprecedented waters for everyone, with everyday a new “solution” arising to the problem at hand. That problem being how to end the Premier League season. With all leagues below national league ending there is the huge issue of how the leagues above are going to resolve this issue.

The effects felt are going to be astronomical that much is clear, but what is the best way to minimise the damage felt by clubs in the Premier League? Not only that, how will this trickle down into the lower leagues and grassroots in the UK?

With May 25th being the date UEFA has asked for plans to be submitted by leagues on how they will either finish the league or if they decide to cancel, more pressure is mounting with other leagues deciding their plans just this week.

ISSUES ARISING

Now there are huge issues with this. There’s a real issue with the players themselves. How do contracts work out now? Are players who contracted to play for clubs next season allowed to play here if the last season is voided in the country they’re in, Saliba for example?

Also there is the fact that we don’t even know if football will be allowed to be played on an European scale because of the obvious issues. Again, it’s hard to say what voiding the season would entail for clubs. When combining all the factors that need to be considered when voiding or continuing the season itself. The leagues also have to follow government rules and regulations, so its hard to do any of this without their input on how the country is attempting to move forward.

VOIDING THE SEASON AND ITS EFFECTS

Seemingly the easiest solution? However, cancelling the season comes with its own issues and more questions to answer. Do we have no champion or relegated clubs like the Eredivisie? Or do we crown Liverpool champions and relegate the bottom three? Even though it isn’t mathematically set in stone…

Then there are further questions in terms of Champions League places also, if you finish without a winner. With Man City’s looming ban from Champions League football, its hard to say you take this seasons standing seeing as there is no winner, you then lose integrity again. The same issue can be applied to the bottom three and sides that can be promoted from the EFL.

OTHER LEAGUES RESPONSES

Ligue 1-As of this week Ligue 1 and 2 is cancelled. Holding off on what will happen to clubs until a later date it seems but no sport will be played in France until August.

Eredivisie-In terms of just this week the Eredivisie have cancelled their season. With no champions or relegations, are now declaring the season null and void , facing legal action from clubs.

Bundesliga- Currently attempting to restart the league in May. Also paying for medical supplies for healthcare workers.

La Liga- Matches ruled out until the summer. However, President of La Liga, Javier Tebas, insists the season must still be finished.

Serie A- Have plans to return by June 2nd but of course dependent on the coming weeks.

Premier League- Also have plans to return in June behind closed doors, attempting to end the season in July. With multiple ideas on how to complete the season.

OTHER OPTIONS

Baring in mind the goal of the Premier League to finish the league by July some of the ideas thrown about have been:

Cancelling the season and taking the current standings as final- French have done this. Much similar to the Premier League as not mathematically fair with the potential for Liverpool to lose, although unlikely and Norwich, Aston Villa and Bournemouth to stay in the league.

Play offs- What clubs are included? Have we lost the integrity of the Premier League turning it into one big tournament?

Resuming when it’s safe- Hard to give any timeframe to people. Jeopardises jobs. Issues with contracted players and keeping the integrity of the season.

Playing at neutral venues- Losing the effect of home advantage? If you waited until it was safe to do so you might as well just resume when safe instead of this option.

Playing behind closed doors- Again not fair, still not safe at all, lots of people would still need to be there for it to function.

Playing abroad- Probably the worst idea put forward, makes little sense when looking at the issue at how the virus spreads.

All of these have common issues, not only do they ruin the integrity of the season and safety of players and more that are involved around clubs. They also ask more questions than they answer in most cases. However, is that something to just be accepted in terms of integrity when looking at this?

CONCLUSION/BEST OPTION

Let me preface this by saying there is no good way to end the season for me. Personally, there is no perfect option, every single option, someone comes out unhappy. However, for me when looking at some of the options thrust out into conversation the driver of money is so evident above all else.

There is no safe way to play football without a vaccine so that for me immediately removes any talk of restarting the league this year. Even today, the idea of two tests a week for players and officials is again trying to force the issue. There is no point when you look at the state of the country at the moment and even dignifying the stupidity of that with a response is ludicrous to me. If we can’t play safely, we can’t play at all and that should be the bottom line of every discussion moving forward.

It is unfair to end a season and go onto the next, and also unfair to the work that clubs have put in to essentially go to waste. On the other hand, so very unfair to crown someone champions or relegated until mathematically possible. I do sympathise and I would be extremely frustrated if my club was in contention to win the league or in the runnings to be relegated also.

I originally didn’t believe there was a rush to cancel/void anything whilst we are in the premature stages of this pandemic. We don’t know the lasting implications of the virus so right now in terms of how the season should end there was no real danger in being hasty. However, as it becomes more clear that no sport is going to be played this year or at the very earliest in September with wishful thinking and more information on how other leagues are handling it there is no shame in following the blueprint set by other countries and voiding the season.

As I said before this is unprecedented waters I think some grace can be afforded to these clubs and leagues as we have to feel out and figure out how to best solve the issue as we keep moving forward through this pandemic, a couple days or weeks could make the difference as to whether a good idea has been found to keep the safety of the footballing community and integrity of the game in the forefront of any plans.

Ultimately, I know we’re all missing the season and I personally can’t wait to get back to going to football and watching Arsenal with my loved ones, there’s no better feeling. I’m sure we can all agree on that!