To think football shouldn't start again until the crisis is over?

[PhilSwagielka]

First off: no, this is not about who I support. I could be a Watford fan and feel the same way. I'd be happy to give Liverpool the title by default. In the Netherlands, they've voided the season, though I don't think Ajax got the title by default, and apparently Eredivisie clubs are threatening to get the decision overturned.

There have been reports about the Premier League coming back in 5-6 weeks and players training again, and players being tested. How true it is, I don't know, but I don't understand why fit, healthy young men get priority for testing while people working in the NHS, care homes and elsewhere don't get tested. Also, bringing matches back means having to make matchday staff work. Medics, caterers, stewards, security, groundsmen etc. Not to mention that even if matches are played behind closed doors, people will congregate outside the grounds. FFS, Goodison Park is right next to a residential area, what are the chances of Everton fans hanging around outside? The whole thing is a bad idea.

I like football but honestly, I'm happy to go without it for a few months if it means saving lives.

DollyDoneMore Personally, I'd like the league to be nulled and void like the Dutch Eredivisie. The table will be like it stands at the moment, Liverpool will be 1st but not awarded the title and there will be no relagations/promotions.

This is a good article, makes a change from the opinion of Sky pundits
www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2020/apr/25/finishing-premier-league-season-pointless-football

I think they should just battle it out on FIFA for the rest of the season

As a Liverpool fan, I think the season should be completed!

I'd be happy for you to be awarded the title by default. Liverpool were going to win it regardless tbf.

Yabu. My preferred option for all leagues is season null and void but points added to next season, so Liverpool have that advantage and teams facing relegation have the disadvantage, albeit more games to turn it round.

I probably should have worded the OP better. I'd be happy for it to be put off for a few months like it is in France, hopefully the death rate should have tailed off by then. I just think 5-6 weeks might still be too soon.

Btw thanks for not having a go at me and claiming I'm just being bitter. I was really worried that might happen.

I don't like football myself, but I do think it should start sooner rather than later.

I’m not much of a football fan but I liked the message from Jurgen Klopp at the start of all this : www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/390397-jurgen-klopp-message-to-suppporters

If the matches were held to be watched on TV maybe the players themselves could help get the message across about maintaining social distancing etc. Although that might come across as hypocritical if ordinary people can’t do team sports.

I've been loving the lack of sports

Big rugby fans here. The match that went ahead in Cardiff when the italians flew over is thought to have contributed to the covid outbreak there.

So no, no sport until we get to grips with this.

YANBU.

I'm so fed up with all the sports reports telling us that getting sport back will boost everyone's mental well being.

I couldn't give a flying fuck about watching 22 over payed twats playing football.

My families mental well being would be boosted by be able to see family and friends.

I am for it, as something to watch while stuck at home, and because we're are going to need that tax. I don't particularly care for e.g. rugby but if they can make it work, crack on.

And yes, as others have said, it will be played at training grounds or similar to avoid fans congregating and won't require most of the usual matchday staff you'd have. As for losing money - they might just make those channels on Sky or BT free to view which means the channels still get all their advertising revenue. I don't think they'd stick it all on BBC One.

Apparently UEFA want a definite answer by the 25th May from all European clubs.

It'll be behind closed doors when does come back theres no other way of doing so. Doesnt mean fans wont gather. But it's like if Liverpool win the title..theres no way people wont want to celebrate that and having no one there would take the gloss off.

Sorry PAID even.

Well... it will take the shine off, but speaking as a Liverpool fan I just want it awarded and done so it's on the books! At least there was a nice big party for last year's CL win

There are ongoing talks with Government about restarting some sport in the coming weeks - a major meeting is due this Friday. I work in Horseracing and we’re all working towards attempting to restart some racing (Behind closed doors) from mid-May onwards (Racing has continued on some level in several countries and is set to resume in France, Germany and Ireland in the coming weeks).

It’s a fine balancing act, of course you have to make sure that you can do things safely and with the minimum number of people (plans are to only stage 1 or two race meetings each day instead of the usual 4 or 5 at this time of year and stage only at tracks that can be totally locked down), and you also have to make sure that there are no additional pressures on vital services.

On the flip side are the crushing economic impacts on the racing community, most people think that racing is a rich man’s sport and yes there are a number of very wealthy individuals involved, but there are also the connected industries - vets, farriers, feed merchants, etc and the small trainers who are struggling to pay their bills and staff that are needed to look after the horses. It’s anticipated that many trainers and probably a few racecourses will go to the wall because of the shutdown. The loss of a racecourse, even a small one, has a massive impact on the local economy - hotels, bars, etc.

And on top of that, and yes I know it’s a touchy subject, but betting turnover on racing, and other sports, generates a large amount of tax for the Government and at some stage that tax is going to be needed.

Well, it seems like football will resume by June with no fans behind closed doors. In my humble opinion, bringing sport back when possible will be a massive boost for the population !

Is quite nice..as it stands still being in the Champions league.
It's hard to say void the season because a few clubs might not get the opportunities they would if they finish this season.
Most likely it'll be completed just in June/July. Money talks...

@PhilSwagielka You're the least bitter blue nose I've ever encountered! Oh, and Big Nev of course.

I'm married to a Leeds Utd supporter, they were on the verge of promotion at lockdown. Football cannot come soon enough in our house!

@PhilSwagielka your posts clearly show your not bitter at all. It's a really difficult decision there are so many contributing factors including the lower leagues who could miss out on promotion, and the financial implications that come with that.
I'd honestly rather they find a way to finish the season but with the fans, it's going to be such an anti climax now whatever happens. But I don't really see how that can happen

I think yabu. I too would love to have some football to watch but think it is unfair to put players at risk. The salaries they are paid are neither here nor there in my opinion they are sportsmen who are well paid and in a form of entertainment if you like. Entertainers and sportsmen do earn ££££. Lots of footballers and sportsmen do donate to causes or have their own charities or foundations. If some wanted to take paycuts to support other furloughed workers at their clubs eg. Groundsmen that would be a nice thing to do but there is no obligation for them to do that. In any other sector would you expect workers who are being paid their full wages to top up their furloughed colleagues pay? Doubt it!

Also, you are right with regards to fans and social distancing. People will still want to congregate at each others hones to watch matches if games are behind closed doors and pubs are closed. This would thrown the whole not mixing of households out the window!

Football should not return till the new season would start and even then it should be reassessed.

Sorry should say yanbu!

The Premiership alone contributes £8bn to GDP and £3.6bn pa in tax plus 100,000 jobs. It's an important industry and just like any other industry, if they can find a safe way to work, they should work.

If the clubs don't play and they don't complete the season it could potentially put some clubs in danger financially, which would result in even more job losses. I know it's popular on MN to bash millionaire football players but this isn't about them, it's about the thousands of others whose livelihoods depend on football. And from a football perspective not completing the season could complicate things in regards to qualifying for the champions league. Belgium ended their season early and recieved sharp critcism from UEFA for doing so. In Germany they're getting ready to start playing again, no spectators obviously. They'll be what the Germans delightfully call "Geisterspiele" literally ghost games.
I think it'll be great to have the football back, it'll be another small step back to normality. A sign that things will eventually get back to normal

We cannot all stay in lockdown until a vaccine is discovered. Life has to get back to some sort of normal eventually.

If premier league matches are played behind closed doors, with minimal staff involved (I’m sure I’m being naive here, but how many staff do 11 players plus subs need? Couple of coaches, physios, drivers...?) and it can’t then be broadcast on tv that generates revenue (ie tax to pay everyone who has been furloughed) and if there’s no pubs open people will stay at home, or maybe go round a mates house if that’s allowed by then. Perhaps it will pacify the British public and stop us flocking to national trust areas or the beach.

Not a football fan btw.

Without the spectators (i.e. games behind closed doors), there'll be no profit and no tax to the govt. You can't have profit and tax without revenue. The TV adv revenue will be trivial, and probably head straight back to offshore tax havens.