devilsadvocate

The next step will be Scotland to cancel their league and crown Celtic as champions which seals our fate imo. The way I see it now: Leagues will be completed behind closed doors. or Leagues that can't do that despite best efforts (ie it gets to end of July/Aug and still not restarted, run play offs to decide euro places/relegation if possible. smaller league for financial reasons/government forced, will cancel and decide final standings based on ppg. Where there's a clear champion (Scotland/Belgium) they'll crown them and where's there isn't a clear winner (holland) they may decide not to have a champion but use current standings for European qualification. Relegation is gonna be the tough one to decide.

https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=2641715.html Directions from UEFA to all national associations & no mention of null and void thank god. 1) complete the season if possible 2) resume with different format if necessary ( possibly some type of playoff to decide European qualification/relegation if no time to complete league ) 3) if not possible let sporting merit decide cancelled leagues

At the end of the day if football has to wait until a vaccine to resume then it's finished as we know it. The test case for games to resume before a vaccine is going to be the Bundesliga which by all accounts is preparing to resume behind closed doors in May. If successful I think you see the other big leagues follow suit in June/July with a view to completion by July/Aug and then UEFA will attempt to complete the European comps. If it goes tits up in Germany then football will he placed on hold indefinitely until a vaccine is widely available which probably writes off the whole of next season. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52379825

https://www.dw.com/en/coronaviruswhen-will-premier-league-bundesliga-serie-a-la-liga-and-ligue-1-restart/a-53202352 Good article on the current state of play for each league, mooted return dates and financial implications if cancelled.

Yep, Brighton chairman confirmed that no club raised the possibility of cancelling the season at last weeks meeting, now all of a sudden certain clubs are considering a u turn. They claim the main fear from clubs is the safety of playing a full contact sport while there remains a risk of contracting Covid-19 which is basically what that cunt Brady said in her scum column. Are the same 'clubs' happy to forgo football then until a vaccine is ready in probably 12-18 mths which writes off next season aswell? I highly doubt it!

The time to worry will be if Germany/Spain/Italy/France decide to cancel their current season. Leagues like Belgium/Scotland/ Holland have no where near the same size tv deals/implications if they cancel as the big 5 leagues.

All these same issues are going to be present until a vaccine is developed so basically these owners bringing up all these concerns on why the season can't restart are saying that we can't play any matches for possibly the next 12-18 mths or do they think come August everything will be fine and dandy!

Deffo, the fact we haven't won the league for so long is the only thing other teams fans have over us. They thought it was about to end but this void bullshit has given them a glimmer of hope and they would love to be able to rub our noses in it should we be denied it. It will be the Gerrard slip x 1000!

Voided or curtailed?

As the article doesn't actually state who is telling the clubs that the new season must start by 1st week in September then my guess is that it's another made up story to create headlines. Same as the 9 clubs will demand season finishes by June 30th bollocks.

Is there any point starting a new season if fans can't attend? I see the point of games behind closed doors to get this campaign completed, means to an end and all that but let's say no vaccine for 18 months are we really gonna play a full season behind closed doors? Best solution would be to finish this season as soon as possible behind closed doors and then put it on hold until a new season can start with fans in attendance.

Sky sports article says 30th June cut off wasn't even mentioned. Seen as 9 clubs we're determined to set a cut off date seems strange it wasn't brought up. Think we all need to stop worrying about bullshit newspaper articles.

Sure I read somewhere that the premier league can't agree to cancel the season without gaining the agreement of the EFL?

Whose to say it won't be another 30 yrs! if someone had said in 1990 that in the year 2020 we won't have won it again you'd have laughed your bollocks off. if we don't win it this year we are cursed and I can't see us ever winning it after so many near misses. This monkey needs removing from our back now. Fuck that this title is ours by hook or crook.

The only 1 reasonable question on the article is what happens if a player contracts the virus and the whole squad has to go into self isolation but from what ave read they will only resume once the players are able to be tested regularly to ensure there not affected which removes the 14 day self isolation. This also takes away the possibility clubs can use the excuse of infected players to their advantage. Teams should be told we're going to finish it and if you refuse you forsake any prize/tv money you are due. It should be agreed that in the event it restarts but can't be finished for whatever reason then the season will then be curtailed and the table at that point will be final.

It's a load of bollocks that contracts section in the article. It screams 80 top stars are out of contract which could leave teams vying for Europe or fighting relegation with depleted squads! Reading this you'd think teams are at risk of losing 4/5 of there best players and therefore bringing the integrity of the competition into question. 1) 80 players averages out to 4 per team and they have 25 man squads + academy players. 2) Of the 80 how many are top stars who would really impact a team if they decided not to play after 1/7? Am guessing majority are loans or players surplus to requirements. 3) looks like the transfer window won't be open so if players decide to not play they can join another team as wouldn't be eligible. Aslong as both parties agree on a short extension to the contract (probably 30 days ) then what's the big deal. If the player won't commit then fine sit out These teams are looking for any excuse to serve there own interests. It won't be voided but you can see teams trying to use this to avoid being relegated, proposing an expanded league next year.

Funny how you're not hearing any of this self serving shite coming out of Bundesliga/serie A/la Liga/Ligue 1 the noises from there are they are committed to restart and finish the leagues as it's safe to do so and if that runs into July then so be it.

Why? To signify the season was finished behind closed doors? Winning behind closed doors will be a blow after waiting 30 yrs but once we're allowed you can guarantee Liverpool will see the biggest celebration this City's ever seen to parade our title.

It's looking clear now that it will go one of 2 ways with the season being finished behind closed doors when it's safe to do so in June/July /August and we'll win it or the season will be curtailed like Scotland looking to do because it's becomes too difficult and we'll be awarded it based on ppg. Curtailment will come with an asterisk which is better than nothing but the preference has got to be get it won by winning 2 more games. Thankfully it appears that null and void isn't going to be an option.

If the Bundesliga restart and finish the season behind closed doors then there's no reason to believe the other 4 big leagues won't follow suit as soon as it's deemed safe to do so (probably 2-4 weeks after Germany). Fifa haven't agreed the extension of contracts beyond June 30th for nothing.

Noise coming from Germany is that the Bundesliga will resume in May and be completed by June behind closed doors. Players have now returned to training!

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/uefa-president-makes-major-liverpool-18050728

What happens when the inevitable 2nd wave of the virus hits next winter, shall we void that season aswell? The news coming out of the UEFA meeting last week is that they are fully expecting not to be able to finish this season until July/Aug and they plan to rejig next season to accommodate finishing this one. Fifa are looking into the contract issues and James Pearce reported last week regarding the NB/Nike issue.

Why won't it be finished?

Does this Belgium decision now finally take the ridiculous null and void option off the table? Surely the precedent has now been set with Chilean(last yr) and Belgian leagues both cancelling a season early but crowning a champion. Still a last resort for me as if it's in any way possible I want it completed even if it has to be behind closed doors but hopefully this removes the chance of us being robbed of what's rightly ours!