‘behind Closed Doors’ Competition

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by UEA_Hornet, Mar 6, 2020.

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Which game do we fans get banned from first?

  1. It’ll never happen. The virus will wipe out everyone before that.

    7.9%
  2. Leicester (H)

    23.7%
  3. Burnley (A)

    35.5%
  4. Southampton (H)

    18.4%
  5. Chelsea (A)

    9.2%
  6. Norwich (H)

    3.9%
  7. Newcastle (H)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. West Ham (A)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  9. Man City (H)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  10. Arsenal (A)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  11. First match 20/21 season

    1.3%
  1. Markoa$

    Markoa$ Squad Player

    I beg your pardon, that’s for my wife and folkestone orn only.
     
    SkylaRose and Maninblack like this.
  2. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    Absolutely. We’re very vulnerable at the moment, clinging on to our Premier League life on goal difference.
     
  3. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    I really can’t see it being abandoned. Postponement for a few months, and rescheduling the Euros to next year, strikes me as much more likely.
     
    WillisWasTheWorst likes this.
  4. IRB

    IRB THe artist formally know as ImRonBurgundy?

    Would not be surprised to see Saturday's game postponed
     
    Burnsy likes this.
  5. Hornpete

    Hornpete Squad Player

    Who says football will start again next season?

    That could be it... 75% of the world snuff it by 2023, then the really vicious covid-23 kicks in having mutated into a symbiotic deviation that attacks the neurological system on top of the respiratory system. The only eventual survivors are the lizard people led by Jeff Goldblum, Geoff Capes, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Jofra Archer.
     
  6. fuzzy73

    fuzzy73 Squad Player

    Looks like this started with an unsubstantiated tweet so yes it appears false, sorry. It looked believable though, similar to a force majeure clause
     
    UEA_Hornet likes this.
  7. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    Geoff Capes?! That’s one hell of a lizard.
     
  8. Arakel

    Arakel First Team

    There is previous for it, albeit in the 1939/1940 season and for obviously different reasons.

    Given that the football authorities seem to be stuck in the 1940s it's bound to be relevant.

    Joking aside, picking seasons back up later introduces a whole ream of problems. How do you handle transfer windows? What happens with regard to out of contract players no longer able to play for the squad? It's a nightmare and would require a whole bunch of case by case rules, and given the varied season timetables around the world it could be an enormous headache.

    I suspect it'll be far easier to just strike it from the record than pick it up again, especially if the issues are ongoing past September.
     
  9. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    I thought this the other day - but then the flip side is that it doesn’t heap a ton of pressure on just one host country and every city just has 1-3 games over a spread period, rather than every game. It kinda goes both ways - although the whole idea was stupid to begin with, regardless of the virus.
     
  10. V Crabro

    V Crabro Reservist

    1) Freeze the season as soon as any PL game is required to be played "behind closed doors"
    2) The PL should offer the EFL £0.25bn funded by proportionate deductions from the "winnings" of all clubs still in with a mathematical chance of relegation (i.e mid-table £1m, Norwich £50m, WFC say £20m)
    3) The PL should require the EFL to distribute the money in a similar way to those clubs still in with a mathematical chance of promotion.
    4) Four up/four down in the 20/21 season.
    5) PL gives the EFL 48 hours maximum to accept, otherwise no "compensation".

    Of course there will be complaints, but I doubt litigation would be successful. I am no lawyer, but isn't this the very definition of a "force majeure" situation?

    In the next few weeks the bleatings of a few second tier football clubs and fans might not be the most important topic for the country.

    I think we are going to see proof that Bill Shankly's maxim about the importance of football was not 100% accurate.
     
  11. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    It should be abandoned. I don’t see any reasonable ‘ifs or buts’ personally. A football clubs achievements for one season are completely irrelevant.
    Moreover, I expect it to be in the next 24-48hrs.
     
  12. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    Agreed. Clubs further down the ladder can be compensated and those higher up will just have to suck it up. Pandering to the inevitable whining of Liverpool/Sheff Utd/Leeds fans would be a horrific mis-step.
     
  13. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    On what grounds? I can’t see the government advice changing in that time. They’ve already questioned the usefulness of cancelling sporting events, so even if things move to ‘delay’ in the next couple of days I think they’ll hold that back.
     
  14. Arakel

    Arakel First Team

    You have to admit they have a point. It's hard to see how cramming people into a tightly packed stadium could possibly expose more people to a contagious virus that can apparently survive up to 3 days on some surfaces.
     
  15. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    Start a massive network game on FM, with every manager in charge of their own club. Finish the season. Simples.
     
  16. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    But then I guess the equation involves comparing what those people would otherwise be doing? Fine if they’re all dutifully self-isolating and waiting for it all to blow over. Less so if they’re all just going to the shops, the pub, the cinema, round each other’s houses etc.
     
    Jumbolina likes this.
  17. Arakel

    Arakel First Team

    Right. You can't limit it to just sporting events and it needs to be government driven rather than piecemeal. None of that means there's no value in cancelling crowded sporting events, though. That's a strong statement for the government to make and gives out entirely the wrong message.
     
  18. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Per BBC Juventus announce that Italy centre-back Daniele Rugani has tested positive for coronavirus.
     
  19. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    Reckon Gino can get a discount?
     
    Keighley likes this.
  20. Timbers

    Timbers Apeman

    Kabasele to be named player manager? Her spends his life on it!
     
    luke_golden likes this.
  21. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    He’s a CB. We won’t be interested.
     
    brumhorn likes this.
  22. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    Big rumours tonight on social media that there will be a statement tomorrow that the season will continue behind closed doors. Games won’t be shown in pubs, provisions will be made so season ticket holders can stream games on club platforms.
    Can’t see it being true personally.

    If they did decide to play on with no fans, I’d have thought they’d make arrangements to try and air as many games as possible online or on TV. The idea given seems to be actually be suggesting reducing them.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2020
  23. From The Times (paywall)

    All football matches in England will be played behind closed doors under government plans to combat coronavirus that could be triggered as early as today.

    A meeting of the government’s Cobra committee this morning is expected to move its response to the pandemic from the “contain” phase to the “delay” phase. That will result in a crisis plan being unveiled for football. The Times can reveal:

    ● The current season will not be postponed and instead matches in the Premier League and lower divisions will be moved behind closed doors;

    ● All Premier League season-ticket holders and ticket holders for individual games will be able to stream coverage of matches into their homes;

    ● No games will be shown in pubs so as to avoid congregation of people;


    ● Premier League games will not be shown live in the 3pm slot on Saturday afternoons;

    ● Broadcasters will be permitted to screen more than one Premier League game during both the lunchtime and tea-time television slots on Saturday, and the scheduled slots on Sundays and Mondays; and

    ● Season-ticket holders and ticket holders for individual games at Football League clubs will be allowed to watch matches on iFollow streams.

    The plan may be implemented once the number of UK coronavirus cases passes 500. Last night it stood at 460.

    The dramatic moves are seen as the only potential way to end the present season in light of the growing coronavirus crisis in England and the growing possibility of the country being moved to the delay phase.

    The government has been in discussion with the Premier League, the Football League and the Football Association about what can be done. The uncertainty over how the virus will develop and how long it will last are seen as reasons why English football will not be temporarily postponed. The forthcoming Euros also present a problem to the Premier League as to when this season would actually finish and how it could impact upon future campaigns.

    Sporting integrity has been cited as a major factor in moving against the possibility of cancelling the season outright, although smaller clubs who are more reliant on gate receipts are worried about the financial implications of matches without ticket sales.

    However, there are huge penalty clauses in the Premier League broadcasting contracts if the season was terminated rather than played to a conclusion. These would run into hundreds of millions of pounds for the Premier League and would most likely have to be passed onto the clubs, or alternatively would be clawed back by removing things such as parachute payments.

    That is what has led to the solution of moving games behind closed doors.

    The Premier League has been the last major organisation in Europe to move towards ending spectator attendance at their games.

    So far the government has followed medical advice that has insisted the congregation of large crowds at outdoor events is not dangerous. However, it is the close proximity of supporters travelling, especially on trains, that is now seen as the biggest threat.

    Under the plans, pubs will be ordered not to show live coverage of matches and will be threatened with the loss of their licence if they fail to comply. It is thought this will be policed strongly because of the risk to health.

    The present proposals are to broadcast every single Premier League game. Every season-ticket holder, or anyone who has a bought a ticket for a game would get a free stream. Clubs would then be able to sell streams for their games to fans as well. Even given the extraordinary nature of the times, there is still a desire not to set a precedent by showing games live at 3pm on a Saturday, traditionally a protected slot to incentivise fans going to watch their local teams in person.

    The Premier League has been in negotiations with the Football League to assure them that none of their games would be shown live at 3pm on a Saturday. Broadcasters would face less pressure in the unique environment to put matches directly up against other games. The solution would involve existing slots with potentially three games shown at the same time.

    The decision by the Premier League to move all of their games away from the 3pm Saturday slot would allow the Football League to stream all of their matches at that time using the iFollow technology.

    Most Football League clubs already have that technology installed to allow them to stream their games. Some clubs have their own streams but the technology is in place for every club to stream their games live.

    There is still concern, however, at Football League level, about the loss of matchday income which in some cases at that level constitutes two thirds of their annual income. Talks have taken place at government level about whether there is compensation available. The chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a £30 billion package to help the country get through the coronavirus in his budget yesterday but it is unknown if any of that will be put aside for struggling football clubs fearful of going bust.

    Playing games behind closed doors is now seen as the least bad option. It means that existing fixture schedules can be completed across all of the four main leagues in England. Most English clubs have at least nine league matches to play, plus the remaining rounds of the FA Cup and Champions League.

    As it stands only players, team officials, broadcasters and journalists would be allowed to attend games in England. A further complication however would be if infection was to spread between players. At that point it is thought that the Professional Footballers’ Association would say that the danger to their members would be too great and games would be cancelled.

    At present the Bundesliga in Germany and Ligue One in France have already gone behind closed doors, and one Division Two footballer in Germany has tested positive for the virus.

    The Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has voiced his concern about playing games without supporters in attendance. “Does football work without spectators?” he said. “If the people can’t come, there is no sense. We will follow what we have to do, but I wouldn’t like to do it without the people.

    “The other issue you have to ask is: is it worse to play football without the spectators? We do our job for the people and if the people cannot come to watch us, there is no sense.

    “I would not love to play matches in the Premier League or Champions League or the cups without the people, but we will follow the instructions of the government.”

    Discussions have shown that all eventualities are fraught with difficulties, but it is seen as the only way ahead.
     
  24. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    ‘Sporting integrity’ my backside. Money is talking.

    Get the whole show cancelled. I’m genuinely baffled how they can’t fathom that a season of football isn’t at all important in the face of this thing. If this goes as widespread as predicted in the next 14 days (60%), how do they propose to keep entire squads of footballers free of it? It’s madness.
     
    Wexford-yellow likes this.
  25. zztop

    zztop Eurovision Winner 2015

    Of course. Money matters, as does the economy. Do you want Sky to get a huge refund, with the resultant financial risk to clubs.? It just seems a much better option than ending the season. The players are at risk along with everyone else, I don't see that a game of football means much extra risk, they are young, fit and healthy anyway.
     
  26. Hornpete

    Hornpete Squad Player

    Whilst i dont disagree. It would cause a massive amount of disruption across the leagues at club level and could see a number of clubs go bust. Not sure what survives at the other end.

    I'd suggest no fans is phase 1, phases 2 or 3 maybe cancelling everything.
     
  27. Aside from the financial hit, you can see a legal challenge from whoever gets relegated if there are any changes to the format (home advantage being taken away and was unfair because blah blah, or half the squad was ill etc). I don’t think there are any easy options.
     
  28. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member


    Already happened in the Europa league:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51844899

    Presume games already on Sky etc will still be shown?

    Tbh not sure I'd want to see us at Chelsea anyway !!
     
  29. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    I still think this will be what'll happen in a ramped up phase of 'delay', rather than from today. Obviously we'll find out later. Good luck getting the pubs to show no football though - laughable to think that'll work.
     
  30. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    Whereas the Grauniad this morning suggests that banning large scale public events is unlikely to happen at this stage as the Deputy CMO is sceptical as to the effectiveness of such measures.

    EDIT: pretty much what UEA says above.
     
  31. Harrybassetthater

    Harrybassetthater Academy Graduate

    They should suspend all football for this season. Next season resume all leagues and cup competitions from where they were suspended. If for example they are 8 Premier games to be played, play them to determine promotion and relegation issues and start a new season playing each team in the league once instead of twice. The computer would have to decide home and away details. The only drawback would be some teams in a 20 team league would have 10 home games and 9 away and the others would have 9 at home and 10 away but a small price to pay? Also there would have to be a transfer ban until all the competitions carried over have been decide with the current squads.
     
  32. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

    Love to know how they plan to manage this selling streams thing. A laughable idea. Do we honestly believe the smaller clubs can handle such a thing when we still expect people to pick up paper tickets on match day?

    I have to admire their steadfast opposition to showing games at 3pm. Laughing stock of the sporting world.
     
  33. Luther Bassett

    Luther Bassett Reservist

    Well, if they’re that concerned about intimate gatherings, perhaps they should cancel the Cobra meeting...
     
  34. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    Pause this season now, aim to restart in a couple of months, with 2 games per week. League season, plus Cup and playoffs, done and dusted by end of June. Euros switched to 2021. Is that so problematic?
     
  35. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    It is for me, with tickets and travel booked for Euro 2020 at the end of June.
     
    Keighley likes this.

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