The Premier League today continued it’s public relations disaster on behalf of the game it is supposed to represent
The clubs met today and remain committed to finishing the 92 remaining fixtures of the current season whilst not discussing a deadline by which time the action should resume.
Clubs were expected to debate a 30 June deadline to resume play but instead discussed “possible scheduling models”.
At a time when the government have extended lockdown by the another three weeks whilst ruling out the possibility of the same again, football – UNLIKE ANY OTHER SPORT – insists that it will ensure that uncertainty reigns over the game.
Do we hear cricket, golf, horse racing moanin, groaning and unable to handle the situation? NO!
At a time when thousands have died and others are being infected, the Premier League can’t bring itself to do the decent thing and say: “This season is over – we’ll start afresh with the new one when all is well.
The harsh reality is of course that until a vaccine is found that could be a long time yet it seems the PL – money driven of course – is somehow believing that a safe time to complete the season will arrive before that.
It won’t and all sensible people now it.
As a result football’s image becomes more and more stained with all of us on the outside far more concerned with the dead, dying and our own self preservation.
In their pathetic statement following a meeting today the bosses said: ” In common with other businesses and industries, the Premier League and our clubs are working through complex planning scenarios.
“We are actively engaging with stakeholders, including broadcast partners, and our aim is to ensure we are in a position to resume playing when it is safe to do so and with the full support of the government.
The health and well being of players, coaches, managers, club staff and supporters are our priority and the League will only restart when medical guidance allows.
“Today’s shareholders’ meeting provided an opportunity to discuss possible scheduling models. It remains our objective to complete the 2019-20 season but at this stage all dates are tentative while the impact of Covid-19 develops.”
Leagues are currently suspended until 30 April across England as a result of a pandemic that has killed more than 12,000 people in the UK.
Sorry, disagree.
In this instance I think the PL have got it right.
Why cancel a 19/20 season that’s three-quarters complete in favour of a 20/21 that’s not only yet to start, but has little confidence of starting on schedule (ie August!)?
I’d rather resume when we can, and play it to completion however long it takes. Cancel 20/21 instead; plan to start 21/22 on schedule and fill whatever gap emerges with a suitably designed on-off competition.
Browncoat42 – I agree with you. First of all, it is a football competition, and it only works when everyone has played everyone else once at home and once away. Season start and end dates, audiences, contracts, etc. are subsidiary. Play the competition to its completion and if anything is to be cancelled – and let’s face it, we are where we are so something has to give – it should be the competition that hasn’t yet begun, i.e. NEXT season.
I suspect a few of our fellow Irons are looking for an easy way out of resuming our relegation battle. But I would rather get relegated and maintain the integrity of the competition. Otherwise, it just isn’t worth starting a new season forever unsure if the same scenario won’t repeat next year and could be cancelled again.
At a time when the virus has killed nearly the equivalent of half the attendance of a home game at Upton Park and will if predicted figures aren’t be beeednwill exceed the number at the last home game at the old ground the PL still can’t come to a decision on this season. It created its own monster by demanding more and more money from the tv companies who in turn demanded more silly kick off times and days. It’s time they manned up made a sensible decision to terminate the season protect the players officials and staff and make sure the new season can start in August. Face up to the tv companies pay them back their monies and get back to running the game we all love.
Completely agree Roy Scottie. Karen Brady’s view on this was ridiculed but now looks the only sensible and humane option.
Agree with this. BBC are reporting now that the Olympics, already postponed to NEXT year, may not even go ahead then, whereas the PL still think we can finish this season. Madness. We could easily see sport being played behind closed doors for the rest of this year and beyond, so why bother? Let’s call it a day on this season and focus on starting a new season, WHEN and only when it is safe to do so. Sanity must prevail!
They could furlough all those fat cat club owners, see how they get on earning 2.5k a month. If they finish the season at some point soon when appropriate they will only have one scenario to worry about a new season when it is safe to continue. Modelling for that will have complexity but without distractions of other possibilities they can focus 100% on getting that right.
Get real ffs..the season CAN,T be finished ..it has to be voided in the fairest possible way….its impossible with the problems that starting again In a month or 2 would bring …people are dying for god sake who cares about any of it ..let’s get over this first and sort the football after …plae dont mention money ..yeah millions will be lost or whatever but if a bloke on 300 quid a week can survive after not working for 2 months and not getting paid then I’m sure this multi billion pound game can to ….health and well being of the players come first ..yeah right you mean the money they generate..thats all they care about ….if there well being was what worried them, they would void the season and start again when this horrible virus is gone …you dont see any other sport doing this ….