How much will Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact Aston Villa's season?

[Stu]

What happens if the Prem says right, everyone back to play behind closed doors in four weeks time and a bunch of players, who are aware of their value, just say um, no? A lot of footballers are divs but not all, and they could reasonably say that full contact physical sport, with players sweating and flobbing everywhere is stupid during a pandemic.

They're obviously not going to be worried about any financial impact, so what leverage will clubs have? The prem could take action on players but that's not a good look, fining/banning players that are concerned for their, and their families, welfare.

[aev]

What happens if the Prem says right, everyone back to play behind closed doors in four weeks time and a bunch of players, who are aware of their value, just say um, no? A lot of footballers are divs but not all, and they could reasonably say that full contact physical sport, with players sweating and flobbing everywhere is stupid during a pandemic.

They're obviously not going to be worried about any financial impact, so what leverage will clubs have? The prem could take action on players but that's not a good look, fining/banning players that are concerned for their, and their families, welfare.

This is one of the points Gary Neville was making.

He had a meeting regarding his restaurant and what would be required to operate (50% capacity to ensure tables spread out etc) and then a meeting regarding Salford and it is clear that these measures are incompatible with football.  Throw in the fact that some professional players maybe asthmatic or have other health issues and he said increasingly fears that it cant restart any time soon.

[andyh]

No cricket until at least July 1st.

Seems there is only one sport that believes it might be immune.

[old man villa fan]

Obviously if we are relegated, then as most say on here we could sue the premier league - but that could take months before it comes to courts and by then the new season will be well underway, also I am sure that if the premier league took this decision they would be backed by EUFA

If legal action is taken, it will not go the way you are suggesting.  If a club was relegated and took legal action, the first thing to happen would be application for an injunction to stop it happening until the court case is resolved.  The reason for this is that the PL would not be able to reinstate the club if they lost the case as they would have moved on with promoted teams.  No value could be put on remedying the injured party because they could be out of the PL for years.  Therefore the case has to be heard and resolved in court before the whole of football down the leagues could continue in the way it was.

[Stu]

What happens if the Prem says right, everyone back to play behind closed doors in four weeks time and a bunch of players, who are aware of their value, just say um, no? A lot of footballers are divs but not all, and they could reasonably say that full contact physical sport, with players sweating and flobbing everywhere is stupid during a pandemic.

They're obviously not going to be worried about any financial impact, so what leverage will clubs have? The prem could take action on players but that's not a good look, fining/banning players that are concerned for their, and their families, welfare.

This is one of the points Gary Neville was making.

He had a meeting regarding his restaurant and what would be required to operate (50% capacity to ensure tables spread out etc) and then a meeting regarding Salford and it is clear that these measures are incompatible with football.  Throw in the fact that some professional players maybe asthmatic or have other health issues and he said increasingly fears that it cant restart any time soon.

It's just common sense. Whatever that is worth in football, I guess.

[David_Nab]

What happens if the Prem says right, everyone back to play behind closed doors in four weeks time and a bunch of players, who are aware of their value, just say um, no? A lot of footballers are divs but not all, and they could reasonably say that full contact physical sport, with players sweating and flobbing everywhere is stupid during a pandemic.

They're obviously not going to be worried about any financial impact, so what leverage will clubs have? The prem could take action on players but that's not a good look, fining/banning players that are concerned for their, and their families, welfare.

Plymouth chairmen raised the point that if he had a player refuse to play as he didn't feel safe he would not force him too

More importantly, if it is not safe for a crowd to watch a contact sport, how can it be safe for a participant? We would respect any individual player who said he did not want to play until assured it was completely safe.

https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2020/april/chairmans-chat/

[paul_e]

Obviously if we are relegated, then as most say on here we could sue the premier league - but that could take months before it comes to courts and by then the new season will be well underway, also I am sure that if the premier league took this decision they would be backed by EUFA

If legal action is taken, it will not go the way you are suggesting.  If a club was relegated and took legal action, the first thing to happen would be application for an injunction to stop it happening until the court case is resolved.  The reason for this is that the PL would not be able to reinstate the club if they lost the case as they would have moved on with promoted teams.  No value could be put on remedying the injured party because they could be out of the PL for years.  Therefore the case has to be heard and resolved in court before the whole of football down the leagues could continue in the way it was.

Absolutely, this is why they need to end the season in a way that doesn't create legal issues.

[Mister E]

What's the obsession with finishing the season anyway? They won't be playing again until there's a vaccine available, I reckon.

Correct, which is why January is the earliest conceivable resumption time.
When the lockdown is loosened there will be specific instructions abour mass gatherings, which means any group of over a dozen or so will be outlawed. How many will be required for a behind-closed-doors game? - someone here speculated 280 (and with the risk of fans gathering either outside the ground or elsewhere).

I cannot see competitive football - or any sport - being viable for months. And that means that the 2019-20 season will have become irrelevant.

So the Bundesliga is looking to return in early May and the earliest conceivable resumption time for the PL is January?  I know Germany has done better than us in controlling the virus, but you can't conceive us catching up with them for 9 months?

Of course, we don't really know, Chris. However, the rate of the drop in cases is likely to be slow, and there has been some success in curbing the virus' growth due to lockdown. So, the resumption of mass gatherings of any number is unlikely to be sanctioned any time soon.
Maybe I was being too cautious, but most events and sporting diaries are being cancelled - why would football expect to get some sort of golden ticket?

[mr underhill]

it doesn't  - just the EPL, which is obviously a self absorbed narcissistic steaming pile of shit.

[Brassneck]

Obviously if we are relegated, then as most say on here we could sue the premier league - but that could take months before it comes to courts and by then the new season will be well underway, also I am sure that if the premier league took this decision they would be backed by EUFA

If legal action is taken, it will not go the way you are suggesting.  If a club was relegated and took legal action, the first thing to happen would be application for an injunction to stop it happening until the court case is resolved.  The reason for this is that the PL would not be able to reinstate the club if they lost the case as they would have moved on with promoted teams.  No value could be put on remedying the injured party because they could be out of the PL for years.  Therefore the case has to be heard and resolved in court before the whole of football down the leagues could continue in the way it was.

Absolutely, this is why they need to end the season in a way that doesn't create legal issues.

Won’t voiding it create just as many legal issues involving those who miss out?  Or are they to blithely accept it for the good of Aston Villa?

How would you envisage instigating proceedings over a vote you took part in and subsequently lost?

[David_Nab]

Dutch football no promotion or relegation

16 clubs voted for
9 against
9 abstained to leave it to league to decide

League decided no prom/rel

[Chris Smith]

it doesn't  - just the EPL, which is obviously a self absorbed narcissistic steaming pile of shit.

Probably right but with so many stakeholders - players, sponsors, tv, advertisers, agents, governing bodies etc -  everyone is being ultra cautious and striving to avoid any blame and potential claims that might ensue. I think the likely eventual outcome of the season being abandoned will only be reached in small incremental steps.

[Footy-Vill]

Dutch football season does not continue anymore. ADO Den Haag and RKC Waalwijk are not going to be relegated to the lower league.
Ajax finishing number one spot for the Champions League and AZ Alkmaar plays the preliminary round for the champion League. Feyenoord (3rd) assured of the group stage of the Europa League and PSV (4th) and Willem II (5th) of the preliminary rounds in Europa League

[andyh]

Dutch football season does not continue anymore. ADO Den Haag and RKC Waalwijk are not going to be relegated to the lower league.
Ajax finishing number one spot for the Champions League and AZ Alkmaar plays the preliminary round for the champion League. Feyenoord (3rd) assured of the group stage of the Europa League and PSV (4th) and Willem II (5th) of the preliminary rounds in Europa League

Given what UEFA said yesterday, that may not mean anything.

[Des Little]

Well if there’s no cricket til July at the earliest then there is less than zero chance of any football. Of that there can be no doubt whatsoever.