Football & Coronavirus [READ MOD NOTE IN FIRST POST - updated 06-05-20]

Mitch Connor

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

You could finish the PL in 31 days.
Jul 1
Jul 4
Jul 8
Jul 11
Jul 15
Jul 18
Jul 22
Jul 25
Jul 28
JUL 31
Thats 10 gameweeks only a few teams have 10 games most only have 9. Nearly all PL teams coped with this schedule over the xmas period. One of those midweeks could be used for most of the Fa cup Qfinals.

Nearly all PL clubs suffered injuries related to schedule of games over christmas, and that wasn't even 2 weeks or so, never mind 31 days.

giveitholly

Pep Guardiola's mother has passed away from Coronavirus,only 82 years young

8-10

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

UEFA won’t cancel the 20/21 CL and the euros will more than likely go ahead next year so the league needs to start on time.

They are saying that the 9 will be played, but that tune will change as it gets closer to summer and the prospect of next season being effected increases.

But how can the CL go ahead before anyone (bar Liverpool) has qualified for the Group Stages?

Amirani

FitzShane wrote: »

Ziyech is not a Chelsea player until FIFA transfer his registration fom Ajax -> Chelsea when the registration window opens. Normally that would be July 1st but it will probably be moved this year.

That's not how employment law works. If Ziyech has a contract as a Chelsea employee from 1st July, then he's a Chelsea employee on 1st July. Makes no difference what FIFA do. This is the same for all agreed transfers and contracts.

You're confusing player registration, which is another situation altogether, and is independent of employment contracts.

Fitz*

Amirani wrote: »

That's not how employment law works. If Ziyech has a contract as a Chelsea employee from 1st July, then he's a Chelsea employee on 1st July. Makes no difference what FIFA do. This is the same for all agreed transfers and contracts.

You're confusing player registration, which is another situation altogether, and is independent of employment contracts.

I guess the key words here are the words 'if', 'agreed' & 'signed'.

If he has signed a contract that will start on July 1st, then there could be a problem. If he has agreed to sign a contract starting that date, it could be different. It would be easier to postpone that signing date.

citytillidie

8-10 wrote: »

But how can the CL go ahead before anyone (bar Liverpool) has qualified for the Group Stages?

Since the PL is not finished Liverpool have not qualified for the CL, only those summer leagues are the only ones who have qualified for 2020-21 CL and EL

Amirani

FitzShane wrote: »

I guess the key words here are the words 'if', 'agreed' & 'signed'.

If he has signed a contract that will start on July 1st, then there could be a problem. If he has agreed to sign a contract starting that date, it could be different. It would be easier to postpone that signing date.

There probably aren't a whole lot of these cases either. I can't think of that many agreed transfers.

Different story for players whose contracts are running out, can see bridge/extended contracts being put in place for these.

grumpymunster

FitzShane wrote: »

Ziyech is not a Chelsea player until FIFA transfer his registration fom Ajax -> Chelsea when the registration window opens. Normally that would be July 1st but it will probably be moved this year.

There is something to stop Willian moving to Spurs, well actually 2 things. The Premier League registration window for this season closed on February 5th so no new players can be registered to play for a club after this date. That includes all transfers, and also includes free agents. And also the main obstacle - the FIFA transfer window is not open and probably won't open until after the current season ends.

IMO clubs will be given the opportunity to extend contracts, at current wages, until the season ends. Call it a 3 month extension if you want. It's available in all normal employment, so why not football? If a club wants to release a player because of financial issues, then they can as the contract is finished. If players want to be released from their contracts, then they can but they won't be able to play for any other club as they won't be able to sign for any other team until the registration window opens.

And also, if any player is refusing to play after this because of a contract issue then it just shows what kind of character they are. And it's not a good one either. A player refusing to play a game which could affect his clubs season after the club paid his wages all year and during the pandemic just because they can get more money somewhere else? what a pr1ck.

This is all conjure of course, but Willian & Pedro are no longer Chelsea players legally after June 30th. They are both professional footballers reaching the twilight of their career so you would expect them to look after their futures extending contracts sounds good but the Bosman ruling is clear if a player is out of contract he can sign for who ever he likes and being a free agent any club that wants him can sign him, terms being agreed between each of course.
And this of course will apply to lots of teams. Be interesting to see the contracts that are in place say between Chelsea Ajax and Ziyech.
If Ajax are after a particular player to take the place of Ziyech, can they force Chelsea to pay for him thus affording the player they want. Ziyech would be, I assume, getting a pay rise and a signing on fee. His contract perhaps being in place who is going to pay that if he does not join on 01st July (Though I am sure he would get the signing on fee in due course).
How unforeseen is this is there wriggle room for any party to get out?
The set date for transfers being allowed is 01st July legally can FIFA move this?

I have no idea and those with some input may take one point of view or the other - which is where the lawyers come in I suspect.

8-10

citytillidie wrote: »

Since the PL is not finished Liverpool have not qualified for the CL, only those summer leagues are the only ones who have qualified for 2020-21 CL and EL

Liverpool already have enough points though, they qualified in the middle of February thanks to Man United beating Chelsea

citytillidie

8-10 wrote: »

Liverpool already have enough points though, they qualified in the middle of February thanks to Man United beating Chelsea

If the league is not finished can't qualify for it

brinty

Isn't it interesting how a majority of Liverpool fans are just concerned with finishing the league above all else.

What's that Metallica song..... "Nothing else matters"

Out of Europe, out of the FA Cup and couldn't be bothered with finishing them.

How's about we finish the FA Cup & European competitions first, then worry about the league.

To finish the season would take three months minimum. The internationals can't be ignored either. They have missed multiple slots too.

And hey if that's what happens think how fresh the Liverpool players would be with no cup competitions to worry about. One/ two games a week max would be a walk in the park surely, and hey presto no 19 should be claimed by our Liverpool friends

Iused2likebusts

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Nearly all PL clubs suffered injuries related to schedule of games over christmas, and that wasn't even 2 weeks or so, never mind 31 days.

Every year in December PL clubs deal with a schedule like that. Also all the clubs in Europe regularly deal with it. Its no big issue for clubs to play 9 games in a 4 week period or 10 games in 31 days.

Iused2likebusts

brinty wrote: »

Isn't it interesting how a majority of Liverpool fans are just concerned with finishing the league above all else.

What's that Metallica song..... "Nothing else matters"

Out of Europe, out of the FA Cup and couldn't be bothered with finishing them.

How's about we finish the FA Cup & European competitions first, then worry about the league.

To finish the season would take three months minimum. The internationals can't be ignored either. They have missed multiple slots too.

And hey if that's what happens think how fresh the Liverpool players would be with no cup competitions to worry about. One/ two games a week max would be a walk in the park surely, and hey presto no 19 should be claimed by our Liverpool friends

It wouldnt take 3 months domestic leagues 31 days. Domestic cups could be done in 8 days. Europe if they did one leg 8 days. 2 legs 15 days. Easily done in 2 months.

Mitch Connor

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

Every year in December PL clubs deal with a schedule like that. Also all the clubs in Europe regularly deal with it. Its no big issue for clubs to play 9 games in a 4 week period or 10 games in 31 days.

and every year every PL team complains about the schedule being too taxing, and players drop like flies with muscle injuries.

And that schedule is not pushed for such a long period.

8-10

citytillidie wrote: »

If the league is not finished can't qualify for it

The league doesn't need to finish. Whether the 9 remaining games are completed or not, Liverpool still have enough points and as many media outlets announced in February, have already qualified.

My point was that you can't start a group stage when only 1 club has qualified for it so the point is moot anyway

To start the 20/21 Champions League you have to either:

a) Finish the leagues (Liverpool can lose all remaining games and will still qualify)
b) Call the leagues as they stand now (Liverpool still qualify)
c) Void the leagues and CL and go off the latest CL qualification (Liverpool are Pot 1 by being holders)
d) Void the leagues but continue this season's CL and fill out groups from latest CL qualification (Liverpool are Pot 2 based on co-efficient having qualified as coming 2nd in 2018/19)

I don't see a scenario where CL 2020/21 can go ahead without Liverpool in the group stages unless there's a legal issue or something like that

ricero

League is the bread and butter. Must be finished above all other competitions.

Cookiemunster

8-10 wrote: »

The league doesn't need to finish. Whether the 9 remaining games are completed or not, Liverpool still have enough points and as many media outlets announced in February, have already qualified.

My point was that you can't start a group stage when only 1 club has qualified for it so the point is moot anyway

To start the 20/21 Champions League you have to either:

a) Finish the leagues (Liverpool can lose all remaining games and will still qualify)
b) Call the leagues as they stand now (Liverpool still qualify)
c) Void the leagues and CL and go off the latest CL qualification (Liverpool are Pot 1 by being holders)
d) Void the leagues but continue this season's CL and fill out groups from latest CL qualification (Liverpool are Pot 2 based on co-efficient having qualified as coming 2nd in 2018/19)

I don't see a scenario where CL 2020/21 can go ahead without Liverpool in the group stages unless there's a legal issue or something like that

Ceferin, the UEFA President, has already said that if a league doesn't finish, then none of it's teams can qualify for Europe. So yes, the league does need to finish for Liverpool or anyone to qualify for Europe.

8-10

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Ceferin, the UEFA President, has already said that if a league doesn't finish, then none of it's teams can qualify for Europe. So yes, the league does need to finish for Liverpool or anyone to qualify for Europe.

So you're saying City could win the Champions League but not be allowed in next season's?

Won't happen. As I posted the other day, they won't go ahead without English clubs

Cookiemunster

8-10 wrote: »

So you're saying City could win the Champions League but not be allowed in next season's?

Won't happen. As I posted the other day, they won't go ahead without English clubs

City are currently banned from Europe for the next two seasons, so yes they could win it and not be allowed to defend it.

Mitch Connor

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Ceferin, the UEFA President, has already said that if a league doesn't finish, then none of it's teams can qualify for Europe. So yes, the league does need to finish for Liverpool or anyone to qualify for Europe.

baseless threat from him, imo, cause it was one of the smaller league causing the problem.

If Spain or England decide their league is finished, and they decide their qualifiers are whichever teams based on whatever criteria, UEFA will not ban those teams from taking part.

if the PL decide the CL teams will be the 4 there now, or the 4 that qualified last season then that is who will play.

EDIT: FOrgot about the City ban, but point remains generally the same

~Rebel~

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Willian could chose to play on for Chelsea (if whatever club he has agreed to sign for allows it) but if he gets seriously injured his future could be cast into serious doubt. Would chelsea offer him a big new contract because he got injured playing for them? Would his new club look to pull a Monaco?

This isn’t a Coronavirus-time issue though, this is an always issue, and players just get on with it.

Let’s say this season ended as normal, no virus, do you think Willian would have refused to play the last 9 games in case he got injured before he was a free agent? Would Ziyech have played his final games for Ajax before going to Chelsea?

Players in their final years can look to sign agreements with months left on their existing contracts too, so any potential weird contract timelines don’t change the situation from the norm either.

Just because the season has this big gap, doesn’t actually change this dynamic at all from what is the norm.

Mitch Connor

~Rebel~ wrote: »

This isn’t a Coronavirus-time issue though, this is an always issue, and players just get on with it.

Let’s say this season ended as normal, no virus, do you think Willian would have refused to play the last 9 games in case he got injured before he was a free agent? Would Ziyech have played his final games for Ajax before going to Chelsea?

Players in their final years can look to sign agreements with months left on their existing contracts too, so any potential weird contract timelines don’t change the situation from the norm either.

Just because the season has this big gap, doesn’t actually change this dynamic at all from what is the norm.

When the season is played beyond the end date of the current contract and (possibly more importantly) beyond the start date of the next contract, it is indeed different.

The Ajax lad becomes a Chelsea employee on July 1st. If he gets injured playing for Ajax on July 2nd thats gonna be a problem.

Iused2likebusts

Mitch Connor wrote: »

and every year every PL team complains about the schedule being too taxing, and players drop like flies with muscle injuries.

And that schedule is not pushed for such a long period.

Players/clubs wouldnt be getting too much sympathy complaining about 2 games a week at this time. When you have had medical workers working marathon shifts trying to save lifes and putting themselves at massive risk for a fraction of what the footballers earn. The schedule for the whole month of december is just as hectic. Midweek league game at the start of december, european midweek games, carling cup Qfinal and thats all just before they play 4 league games in 9 or 10 days.

Rayne Wooney

ricero wrote: »

League is the bread and butter. Must be finished above all other competitions.

Lol, tell that to Norwich who have never won an FA cup before

Rayne Wooney

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

You could finish the PL in 31 days.
Jul 1
Jul 4
Jul 8
Jul 11
Jul 15
Jul 18
Jul 22
Jul 25
Jul 28
JUL 31
Thats 10 gameweeks only a few teams have 10 games most only have 9. Nearly all PL teams coped with this schedule over the xmas period. One of those midweeks could be used for most of the Fa cup Qfinals.

Good luck getting the PFA to agree to that, with 10 months of football ahead of those players after the mental schedule

Mitch Connor

so when people are able to head back to work they should all be putting in 70 hour a week shifts to make up for the lost time, and by golly if they don't like they should think of the Doctors and Nurses!

8-10

Cookiemunster wrote: »

City are currently banned from Europe for the next two seasons, so yes they could win it and not be allowed to defend it.

Forgot about that!

Chelsea then

~Rebel~

Mitch Connor wrote: »

When the season is played beyond the end date of the current contract and (possibly more importantly) beyond the start date of the next contract, it is indeed different.

The Ajax lad becomes a Chelsea employee on July 1st. If he gets injured playing for Ajax on July 2nd thats gonna be a problem.

He’ll only sign a short term contract extension if Chelsea are ok with it... and from there the situation is as normal. And I think clubs will in the vast vast majority of cases allow players in this situation to finish out the season at their previous clubs, because this is a weird situation and a bit of compliance and respect towards the spirit of the original agreement (after this completed season, he’s ours), goes a long way towards everything being sorted.

A lot of these scenarios are interesting to think about, but really I think for the most part will be easily solved by people being civil, understanding the circumstances, and respecting the broad strokes of their agreements rather than getting dickish about details. (Again see New Balance V Nike for example of how most cases will go).

brinty

Iused2likebusts wrote:

It wouldnt take 3 months domestic leagues 31 days. Domestic cups could be done in 8 days. Europe if they did one leg 8 days. 2 legs 15 days. Easily done in 2 months.

Internationals?

Hyzepher

I think people are underestimating the amount of time this virus has to run before any type of normality resumes.

For me it makes more sense to complete an ongoing season before starting a completely new season even if it means skipping one.

rgace

brinty wrote: »

Isn't it interesting how a majority of Liverpool fans are just concerned with finishing the league above all else.

What's that Metallica song..... "Nothing else matters"

Out of Europe, out of the FA Cup and couldn't be bothered with finishing them.

How's about we finish the FA Cup & European competitions first, then worry about the league.

To finish the season would take three months minimum. The internationals can't be ignored either. They have missed multiple slots too.

And hey if that's what happens think how fresh the Liverpool players would be with no cup competitions to worry about. One/ two games a week max would be a walk in the park surely, and hey presto no 19 should be claimed by our Liverpool friends

The extra freshness will give Liverpool a great chance of hanging on to their lead alright.

citytillidie

All eyes will be on Austria to see how things go there with them easing restrictions

Cookiemunster

citytillidie wrote: »

All eyes will be on Austria to see how things go there with them easing restrictions

And Sweden who still haven't locked anything down.

Agent Coulson

Pep Guardiola's mother has died from Covid-19.

The_Kew_Tour

Either finish it all including cups and leagues.

Playing behind close does would just help bigger teams who ain’t needing the cash.

With Italy and Spain giving hope that things are starting get bit better there is hope season will be finished. But just to play CL and no league or vice versa would be disaster too.

England and France seem be in worst position though of big leagues to finish as things stand

JP Liz V1

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Pep Guardiola's mother has died from Covid-19.

RIP

citytillidie

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Either finish it all including cups and leagues.

Playing behind close does would just help bigger teams who ain’t needing the cash.

With Italy and Spain giving hope that things are starting get bit better there is hope season will be finished. But just to play CL and no league or vice versa would be disaster too.

England and France seem be in worst position though of big leagues to finish as things stand

If broadcasters are going to with hold money as nothing is being played all teams will suffer, playing behind closed doors to get the money will help all clubs

grumpymunster

With the 2020 Open Championship scheduled for July being cancelled this far out does not bode well for any spectator sports. So will behind closed doors be possible?

Electric Nitwit

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Pep Guardiola's mother has died from Covid-19.

Horrible news, presumably he's been in the UK the whole time so not seen her, must be horrific

grumpymunster

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

Horrible news, presumably he's been in the UK the whole time so not seen her, must be horrific

That really must be horrible sad times for Pep and his family, indeed many tens of thousands and their families.

Martin Tyler AgueroooOO

Very hard time for millions of families around the world but the same 5/6 posters in here still need to get their rocks off in here day in day with their petty back and forth bull**** one up manship and some it bordering on sinister.

~Rebel~

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Either finish it all including cups and leagues.

Playing behind close does would just help bigger teams who ain’t needing the cash.

With Italy and Spain giving hope that things are starting get bit better there is hope season will be finished. But just to play CL and no league or vice versa would be disaster too.

England and France seem be in worst position though of big leagues to finish as things stand

Have to think that's a situation that's hard to avoid though... even as things start returning to normal, things like concerts and football matches will be the very very last to come back. Honestly think it'll be a year or more before we have mass-scale events like that again. Not till a vaccine is out, freely available, and it doesn't look like the virus will be mutating to a new strain (needing a new vaccine).

Nerdlingr

Hyzepher wrote: »

I think people are underestimating the amount of time this virus has to run before any type of normality resumes.

For me it makes more sense to complete an ongoing season before starting a completely new season even if it means skipping one.

This is it for me. I think it's NEXT season that will suffer , not this one. I believe they will finish this season whenever that may be...late summer, September... Next season will be condensed..no league cup, pared down FA cup, knockout only no replays, cl and el pared down too.

Mitch Connor

Nerdlingr wrote: »

This is it for me. I think it's NEXT season that will suffer , not this one. I believe they will finish this season whenever that may be...late summer, September... Next season will be condensed..no league cup, pared down FA cup, knockout only no replays, cl and el pared down too.

the same reasons they want to finish this season (MONEY) will have them wanting to complete next seasons fixtures as normal too (MONEY).

There are big TV contracts already in place based on matches to be played, this season and next.

~Rebel~

Nerdlingr wrote: »

This is it for me. I think it's NEXT season that will suffer , not this one. I believe they will finish this season whenever that may be...late summer, September... Next season will be condensed..no league cup, pared down FA cup, knockout only no replays, cl and el pared down too.

FIFA - Road to the World Cup 98 - Indoor football 5-a-side mode for next season please!

~Rebel~

Martin Tyler AgueroooOO wrote: »

Very hard time for millions of families around the world but the same 5/6 posters in here still need to get their rocks off in here day in day with their petty back and forth bull**** one up manship and some it bordering on sinister.

My ignore list has grown more in the past 2 weeks than it had in the previous 10 years. It was that, or just have to get off boards altogether.

Unfortunately it doesn't work when you quote somebody

giveitholly

giveitholly wrote: »

Pep Guardiola's mother has passed away from Coronavirus,only 82 years young

Sad news
RIP

Guy:Incognito

brinty wrote: »

How's about we finish the FA Cup & European competitions first, then worry about the league.
s

Europe is down the list. Whatever happens with regard domestic work in general, it will most likely be ahead of putting people in confined spaces to travel internationally. So one way or another, the scope to start domestic football will probably be there before European football.

The_Kew_Tour

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Have to think that's a situation that's hard to avoid though... even as things start returning to normal, things like concerts and football matches will be the very very last to come back. Honestly think it'll be a year or more before we have mass-scale events like that again. Not till a vaccine is out, freely available, and it doesn't look like the virus will be mutating to a new strain (needing a new vaccine).

If the clubs are happy then I be happy. Clubs want season finished. But reckon under own ground at very least. Festival of football is bit risky till things are safe.

Agree with your second part.

Far from expert myself but hopefully some agreement from leagues in UEFA can be made cause a few who do their own thing will cause problems too..