Hitchens60 has posted the following, cheers Hitch;
So we have the French Prime Minister banning football (well, sport in general) until September. Then we have the FIFA medical chief arguing strongly that football should now look to next season to start afresh. Add the fact that both Belgium and Holland have abandoned this season’s leagues and there is a mounting argument for abandoning the 19/20 season.
Then add to that the new spike in Covid infections in Germany which may well lead to a suppression of the Bundesliga’s proposed restart in mid May -all eyes on Merkel’s statement tomorrow – and I think it’s becoming increasingly doubtful that this seasons leagues will be completed.
Of course there are many issues to be considered – this seasons European competition and qualification for next season. Promotion and relegation, complicated by clubs who have or, who will, file for administration. But not least of all MONEY – and in particular the TV contracts.
But football does not have – and nor should it have – some divine right to set itself above the normal vagaries of financial influence. Sky (and the other TV contract holders) will have to work out an acceptable compromise as without the football clubs there is no TV money!
For what it’s worth, my view is we should (the football authorities should) accept that it’s not (equitably) possible to complete the 19/20 season and start working towards a solution dealing with promotion / relegation now and over the next couple of seasons. I think this makes for an interesting discussion on AV News and Views based on the premise that the season cannot be completed.
Finally I cite, in support of my argument, that cricket in England has already agreed that July is the earliest possible start date but it’s already being suggested that there may be no cricket in 2020. In such circumstances how can football argue that it’s possible to complete the 19/20 season by starting training in May and football (albeit behind closed doors) in June – arrogance?