In a way this is not so extraordinary Frenchie - any league match which falls short of 90 mins. duration (ie. was abandoned) may be ordered to count as a completed fixture or be replayed in full. This is at the discretion of the FA which applies - generally games which have been abandoned after 80 mins. stand as results. The same could apply here because the season is so close to the end. I would not want relegation to be settled in this way, but at the top it could be different - there is absolutely no way that Liverpool could be prevented from winning the league on this basis. Particularly because there is no reason why the league cannot be concluded in front of empty stadiums (as long as there is no live TV coverage of them which attracts large groups of people).
As I don't expect to see much football before the start of next season, I don't know how it would be possible to finish off this one. Liverpool are almost, but not 100% there. Jürgen Klopp has said today, “Of course, we don’t want to play in front of an empty stadium and we don’t want games or competitions suspended, but if doing so helps one individual stay healthy - just one - we do it no questions asked” If he is prepared to see the competition suspended to save a single life, then he is a genuine leader.
The fact is that nobody wants to play in an empty stadium Frenchie, but it is theoretically possible whereas all other roads are problematic. After having waited for so long for this title Liverpool may have to win it in front of an empty Kop End which won't be ideal but it's the only way I can see around this. Starting the league again from scratch would be a massive injustice. Things are different at the other end of the table - would any Hornets fan really want to stay up in this way ?
It could be just impossible to play any more games this season. If this virus takes the course that the government is recommending, then we will see 60%-80% of the population having it, take your pick on the figures, which means that it will show a rolling infection until June or July.
The problem is that too many European governments are working on this virus 'taking its course'. Germany is also working on this principle of concentrating their resources on the latter end of the sickness process ie. on preventing the 'serious' cases from dying, yet is letting the numbers build up at the other end. You cannot argue with the figures - South Korea is actively looking for cases and testing 20,000+ people per day knowing that the sooner you get sufferers registered and in quarantine the better. The long term results of this policy are there to see yet European governments are apparently blind to this - this thing can be beaten if you get people early enough before they have had the chance to spread the disease. The numbers of new cases in South Korea has dropped to a tenth of the daily rate it had previously had, although they are now testing even more people than before. There is nothing inevitable about any of this and if they can turn the corner then we can ! Going back to you first point - is there any reason why games cannot be played to empty stadiums ?
And you would want every football fan in this country to be able to say that Watford only stayed up because of an epidemic ?
Yes because at the moment very few teams would be able to field a healthy team That is the reason the season has been suspended And long term there is no way this season can be completed without destroying the next season The only safe option is to cancel this season and then make a judgement as to wether it is safe to start next season in the Autumn/Winter
Why would they say that about Watford? If the season became null & void at least 6 EPL teams would justifiably feel relieved. I would prefer that to playing to empty stadiums. I think Liverpool deserve to be crowned as champions.
So what would you do about West Brom and Leeds Utd, scrap their season as well ? Do you think it is morally justifiable to deny Liverpool the title in this way ? and would English football survive such an injustice ? The fact that some teams in the Premiership cannot field a full team is irrelevant - they field what they have available, just as they would have to do in case of a batch of injuries like we had, and they play on without crowds, and without live TV coverage - simple as that.
My interest is to protect the interests of WFC. Whatever system is used some clubs will feel aggrieved, I prefer one that furthers the cause of WFC.
That or allow Leeds and Brom into the Prem and play with 22 teams like in the good old days Relegation at the end of that season could be a combination of relegation and play off if the need is to reduce back to 20 teams
The difference is at least 10 Premier League side would not be able to field a team at all due to health and safety reasons
or simply the bottom 5 relegated. This pla, which includes many extra game, may not work if next season is delayed dramatically.
I think when it was originally reduced to 20 it was a combination of relegation and playoffs The same would have to apply to the rest of the leagues
