Sky and BT look all set to resist any proposals which scrap relegation from any Premier League Restart plan.
As anticipated by most neutrals such a plan would rob the broadcasters of any serious drama and effectively reduce the remainder of the season to a series of friendly matches.
There are those among the PL chairman who believe that TV is so hungry for the return of football that they would accept any proposal including ‘no relegation, but both broadcasters are reported to want the scrap to stay in the PL included in any plans.
And that will cause another huge battle between the top and bottom clubs when the matter comes back on the agenda at a meeting of chairmen at their next meeting.
The bottom six are certain to vote against the neutral ground proposal with Sheffield United also likely to go that way given they are in with a real chance of Euro League qualification and will need as many home games as they can get.
There is no guarantee for the top clubs either that Southampton and Newcastle – on 34 and 35 points won’t join the against lobby.
Such a move by the dissenting clubs would deny the Premier League a majority in favour of starting up again and that assumes the players don’t vote against a return at a meeting of their own.
Both major broadcasters are in favour of the top flight resuming with the bottom three sides still going down to the Championship at the end of the campaign.
According to the Telegraph, the TV firms believe ‘Project Restart’ will be a difficult sell without the drama of a relegation battle.
Premier League sides are still negotiating over the ins and outs of finishing the season.
As it stands, competitive fixtures have been earmarked for a return in June with full training to begin again in May.
West Ham should just vote against playing then, because if you got relegated in these circumstance, you would have every right to sue the league, for unfair conditions. It is already a joke !
Greed is ruining any remaining integrity the PL has.Being dictated to by these capitalists who do not give a damn about peoples health.Its obscene that money is driving this ruined season on and on.Its like watching some obese ,bloated creature dragging itself one last time to the dining table for a final feed.The Government needs to step in and put an end to it.
Are we now seeing who really runs football? This is becoming obscene. As Hugh said in another thread, let’s hope the players scotch this once and for all.
I think that the BT and Sky executives should play each other in a 90 minute behind closed doors game to demonstrate the feasibility of the return of football. They are probably all working from home isolating from a virus while being happy to see others take the risk.
I subscribe to Sky sport, but would rather have no football or cricket to watch than risk the lives of others.
I think the game is rapidly becoming a complete joke.
Yes mojen : that’s what’s happened due to big money .
It’s now up to Government to declare a stop to contact sports if that is even on its agenda !
The PFA can still have a massive say in this of continuing the season or not . The question shouldn’t be about money ; it should be about lives and safety .