Footballers and CoronaVirus

[Jah Womble]

Just one more game. If we're going to have a protracted period without football, I think we all want to have that memory of Spurs vs Man utd to keep us warm.

Ha. If you're any kind of club at all, you can wait until everyone's fit. (In every sense.)

UEFA have now suspended both the CL and Europa.

So there you go.

[Jah Womble]

...and now the Championship, League One and League Two.

Suspended until April 3rd.

[Jah Womble]

...and finally the Premier League.

[Satchmo Distel]

Clearly the correct decision but it should have happened a week ago instead of exposing players and fans to a further 7 days of unnecessary risk. Waiting until some players tested positive now seems appalling.

I realize this may mean some clubs going to the wall and maybe having to resurrect as phoenix clubs but what's the alternative? They had to choose the lesser of two evils and this is it.

[The Awesome Berbaslug!!!]

Ha. If you're any kind of club at all, you can wait until everyone's fit. (In every sense.)

UEFA have now suspended both the CL and Europa.

So there you go.

Have you no heart? The spurs players had one chance to be rid of mourinho, by losing by a record margin. Then a new manager could come in, and they could start again. Instead they're going to be essentially trapped in an empty hotel with an unravelling madman, in the football equivalent of the fucking Shining .You'd have seen the spurs players lining up to tearfully hug Luke Shaw, saying things like "We didn't know just how much you suffered. " and "Have a free hat-trick. however many shots it takes. "

[Satchmo Distel]

Are there any indications how far down the pyramid this will go? There are obviously some Conference clubs who get bigger crowds than some 4th tier ones, but more importantly, no player at any level will be immune from the virus and it would presumably only take a few positives in any league for it to become unfeasible to carry one.

Conversely, those leagues cannot extend into May and beyond they only have access to shared grounds up to certain dates. If the councils close down those stadia, the clubs have nowhere to go. Same with Sunday park leagues. They just don't finish, or they finish in August and delay starting the new season.

[seand]

When the UK finally cops the fuck on all football activity will be suspended. With the PL gone hopefully the decision will filter down quick enough.

[sw2borshch]

Plus one like for Berba's verbiage there. Very evocative.

[Jah Womble]

When the UK finally cops the fuck on all football activity will be suspended. With the PL gone hopefully the decision will filter down quick enough.

Errm - it's already happened, brother.

[Diable Rouge]

Oddly, no official response yet from the National League.

[Patrick Thistle]

I realize this may mean some clubs going to the wall and maybe having to resurrect as phoenix clubs but what's the alternative? .

Isn't this just the 'well it will only take out the sick and the old' philosophy applied to football?

The Premier League is rolling in cash and that could be distributed more equally down the pyramid to safeguard the future of all clubs, instead of being hoovered up by the wealthiest clubs in the world.

[Patrick Thistle]

Wales friendly with the USA has been cancelled. Decision taken by the USA, according to the FAW

[Patrick Thistle]

The Football Association of Wales has today (13 March) taken the decision to suspend domestic football at all levels in Wales with immediate effect until 4 April due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The intention at this time will be to resume the football schedule depending on the medical advice and conditions from the relevant authorities at that time.

The FAW is fully aware of the impact this will have on the domestic game but the health and safety of all fans, players, volunteers and stakeholders are of paramount importance.

The FAW will continue to monitor this situation on a day-by-day basis and will continue to provide updates when appropriate.

[Patrick Thistle]

That includes the Wales C international that was scheduled for 24 March and the Wales friendly against Austria

[Diable Rouge]

https://twitter.com/BarrowAFC/status/1238429463941185538

[tee rex]

If the leagues have to wait until August before starting again, with all divisions unchanged, maybe they could have 'double up' fixtures: the 20-21 season proceeds as normal, but points are given for the remaining 19-20 fixtures as well.

That would at least give Liverpool their 38 games - eventually. They could win the title in November or January, and another one in May.

Promotion/relegation is more problematic, but a little imagination could sort that out with play-off games (e.g. West Brom miss out next season but accumulate enough "old" points from 19-20 to play off against somebody). Would be fun. And not controversial in the slightest ...

[Walt Flanagans Dog]

Seems the government's policy of not banning events is irrelevant now, the country is going into shutdown for the next month whether they like it or not. Maybe that was the intent all along, so they didn't get the blame.

[Benjm]

There's a distinct possibility that Griffin Park has seen its last game of football then. There must a be strong likelihood of the suspension rolling on past 3 April and presumably contracts have been signed for the diggers to move in swiftly after the season was originally due to end.

[Diable Rouge]

And NI finally completes the set:

https://twitter.com/OfficialIrishFA/status/1238449196740546564

[pebblethefish]

There's a distinct possibility that Griffin Park has seen its last game of football then. There must a be strong likelihood of the suspension rolling on past 3 April and presumably contracts have been signed for the diggers to move in swiftly after the season was originally due to end.

That's very much been something's that's been on my mind Benj. I know I don't get up there as often as I used to, and there was always a chance I wouldn't get a ticket for the actual last game, but I thought I'd actually know when my last visit would be.

[Diable Rouge]

Fair play:

https://twitter.com/AVFCFoundation/status/1238454462739513346

[Furtho]

My local Step 7 club Old Bradwell United take to Facebook to outline this approach:

"Club is open from 12:30 today for the Cheltenham Gold Cup day. Members and non-members welcome. For those self-isolating please use the rear entrance, where you can watch on the TV in the home dressing room."

[Lang Spoon]

What?

[Satchmo Distel]

Isn't this just the 'well it will only take out the sick and the old' philosophy applied to football?

The Premier League is rolling in cash and that could be distributed more equally down the pyramid to safeguard the future of all clubs, instead of being hoovered up by the wealthiest clubs in the world.

Totally agree but the entire premise of the Premier League is to ensure that won't happen.

[Nefertiti2]

Klopp’s statement is impressive

[URL]https://twitter.com/lfc/status/1238461101156769793?s=21[/URL]