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

[old man villa fan]

Out of interest, what's the police's beef with playing at the normal venues?

Pritti Vacant was on the telly a week or so ago telling everyone what a fantastic job she'd done because pub fights were down, burglaries were down, shoplifting was down, etc.

The police have probably never had it so quiet. 

Wasn't it the reaction after the Mayor of Liverpool came out with a comment about Liverpool fans celebrating outside the ground.

[LukeJames]

[quote author=Ad@m link=topic=60688.msg3759995#msg3759995 date=1589231471

Pritti Vacant was on the telly a week or so ago telling everyone what a fantastic job she'd done because pub fights were down

[/quote]
This will never get old 😂

[frank black]

The PL are asking the gov't that games are played at home stadiums. As I understand it the police are the ones who've requested games are played at neutral venues. I can't see the police providing the resources to enable games at VP.

Won't the resource be the same wherever matches are played.  Unless the PL are going to pay for the police, the home club should be responsible for police costs, not a neutral venue local authority.

It’s bollocks rationale from the Police. They would have needed a load more at the games on a normal match day. I read the other day that Covid has led to them have more resources to put towards drugs raids etc....I’m sure they could spare a meat wagon to round up half a dozen numpties that want to hang around our ground.

[old man villa fan]

If the Premier League restarted and finished the season but the Championship didn't, would only two teams get relegated.  I read in one article (although you can't believe anything about this mess now) that the 3rd placed team would get promoted but surely the rules state the 3rd promotion place goes to the winner of the play-offs, which are a series of cup matches.  So, unless they play, there couldn't be a winner.

[OzVilla]

So now being reported that the FA are planning to block any no relegation agreement. Can they afford the legal fees?

As clubs become 5% shareholders in the PL you’d think there’s legal documentation that needs to be signed and countersigned by each club and the PL before each season.  If that contract doesn’t include any provisions for ending the season early and scenarios with potential PPG formula clearly stated then surely any attempt to enforce such would be in contravention of that agreement and thus be legally challenged.

On face value it appears a slam dunk case surely?

Anyone with any legal knowledge able to comment?

[David_Nab]

If you get into the Championship can't finish , can the PL justifiably say you didnt finish no promotion ?

[Steve67]

If you get into the Championship can't finish , can the PL justifiably say you didnt finish no promotion ?

Good point David. I wonder if that's what they are trying to achieve so they can leave no relegation in place.

[David_Nab]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52579299

So even if playing they taking a hit and I still fail to see how removing relegation effects that more .If football comes back and there no relegation do you think Sky will let me out of my contract if I call up and say sorry no relegation I want out ...

Leeds fans you would think after all their issues they would sympathise with clubs , but no they seems as excited to relegate clubs as be promoted ! What piss's me off is the Villa wont play relegate them narrative meanwhile I see Leeds fans asking for Championship to end so they can be promoted on PPG  !!

[Gareth]

Of course they say that, they remember the utter bottle job they performed last season so PPG is a lot less risky than Groundhog Day!

[ROBBO]

If the league think that by getting a number of clubs to agree to relegation in any form without finishing the season will not end up in the courts they are kidding themselves. Millions of dollars are at stake, i could not envisage the Villa owners not fighting it to the bitter end.

[Clive W]

So now being reported that the FA are planning to block any no relegation agreement. Can they afford the legal fees?

As clubs become 5% shareholders in the PL you’d think there’s legal documentation that needs to be signed and countersigned by each club and the PL before each season.  If that contract doesn’t include any provisions for ending the season early and scenarios with potential PPG formula clearly stated then surely any attempt to enforce such would be in contravention of that agreement and thus be legally challenged.

On face value it appears a slam dunk case surely?

Anyone with any legal knowledge able to comment?

Posted this earlier
Not a lawyer but was a company secretary before I retired. Not sure whether this helps - from the EPL Handbook rules

A.1.169.
  “Season” means the period commencing on the date of the first League Match on the fixture list of the League’s first team competition and ending on the date of the last;

C.1.
Each Club shall play two League Matches against each other Club each Season, being the Home Club in respect of one such League Match and the Visiting Club in respect of the other.

C.14.
Subject to Rule C.15, the bottom three Clubs in the table at the end of the Season shall be relegated to The Football League.

So my understanding is that there at least 3 rules that would need to be altered requiring at least 14  in favour. Then the FA with its Special Share would need to give its consent. Only then could an amended rule C14 (presumably now amended to include some PPG calculation) be put to a vote, again requiring 14 to approve.

I’ve also had a look at the rights attached to the FA’s Special Share. While it requires their consent for any changes to the EPL rules re relegation it doesn’t appear that they can impose it - it has to come from the EPL i.e. the changes required above. Having said that the FA has overall jurisdiction and there may be another clause somewhere that allows them to do so. 

[aev]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11986789/premier-league-restart-relegation-training-and-return-dates-discussed-by-ceo-richard-masters

Do you see teams being relegated at the end of the season?
"I think I've said that, if the season plays out, no-one has suggested, or talked about, relegation not being in play. So, on that, basis, yes."

And if it does not, what's the situation?
"You're getting into the discussions we had today about curtailment and the positive decisions that need to be taken. Those discussions are confidential."

So basically, nothing ruled in or out.

[Risso]

They've had a million meetings now and come out with nothing substantial whatsoever.

[curiousorange]

It seems to me they've backed themselves into a corner. The obvious and most painless solution is a temporary reorganisation of the league with more relegations in the next full season, but for some reason they're tying themselves in knots to satisfy criteria they're making up fresh every day.

[OzVilla]

The game changer is the FA chiming in I think. If they are serious about exercising a veto against any removal of promotion/relegation that’s that.

I’ve always felt the game’s will be played anyway, if they are I still think we’ll stay up and I think whoever gets relegated will take legal action.

I also think one of Leeds are Albion won’t get promoted if they play out their games. No doubt they’ll be pushing for PPG after lecturing everyone about ‘integrity’.