Topic: The Impact of COVID 19 on Sport...

[rob1966]

Great news about the fa cup. Season still alive. Its getting exciting again, like the lead up to the world cup.

European football will be tricky though, plenty of airports still closed, travellers quarantined etc.

Weren't they talking about neutral venues and moving the teams abroad?

[Gerry Attrick]

Great news about the fa cup. Season still alive. Its getting exciting again, like the lead up to the world cup.

European football will be tricky though, plenty of airports still closed, travellers quarantined etc.

I think by the time August comes around international travel will be approaching something like we're used to. Maybe not the volume of people but I suspect most countries will have relaxed quarantine measures and airports open. In recent weeks I've seen Spain, France, Greece and Italy talk about allowing international travel to get the tourism industry going again. No reason why football couldn't happen therefore. Britain is just late to the party as usual.

[Statto Red]

FA cup just posted this on Facebook.



Will those fixtures run alongside PL Fixtures on those weekends ? With those teams still in the competition requiring an extra mid-week ?

The priority should have been completing the premier league first, then complete the FA cup after the premier league season has finished

[The North Bank]

I think by the time August comes around international travel will be approaching something like we're used to. Maybe not the volume of people but I suspect most countries will have relaxed quarantine measures and airports open. In recent weeks I've seen Spain, France, Greece and Italy talk about allowing international travel to get the tourism industry going again. No reason why football couldn't happen therefore. Britain is just late to the party as usual.

Problem is if some leagues don't finish due to further postponements, and each country is doing its own thing, with no thought for sport and understandably so. France said no sport till September and got the season cancelled, so PSG surely cant play at home, but where do they go, its a big set up to take teams and staff abroad, and media, and organising events, kick off times that make sense, tv coverage. Its a lot to sort out.

[The North Bank]

The priority should have been completing the premier league first, then complete the FA cup after the premier league season has finished

By the time the fa cup restarts Liverpool would have won the league anyway.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

I'm disgusted by Mo. Everyone knows your energy levels are depleted by having a very low body fat percentage. Wish he would take it seriously, like good old Harry.

[OOS]

British Masters back for July too.

[Rheinbacher]

Literally one of the worst accounts on twitter this. He has thousands of virgin schoolboys hanging off his every word as well. So good to see how bitter he is about us winning the league. Reminds me of Stephen Howson's "You might as well be Celtic" rant.


https://twitter.com/RiZzyUTD/status/1266067318544744450

They should know what it feels like considering they didn't have parade when they won the CL in 2008 because Rangers thrashed their city.

[redgriffin73]

When are they hoping next season will start if there are no further suspensions?

12th Sept I think.

I'd have thought the FA Cup games would have been better midweek rather than taking up weekends and then still having to play any postponed PL games.

[rob1966]

Problem is if some leagues don't finish due to further postponements, and each country is doing its own thing, with no thought for sport and understandably so. France said no sport till September and got the season cancelled, so PSG surely cant play at home, but where do they go, its a big set up to take teams and staff abroad, and media, and organising events, kick off times that make sense, tv coverage. Its a lot to sort out.

Lyon president trying to get that decision reversed, France had a case of premature cancellation there.

If not Twickenham isn't being used, surely PSG could use that if they ask nicely?

[davidlpool1982]

Great news about the fa cup. Season still alive. Its getting exciting again, like the lead up to the world cup.

European football will be tricky though, plenty of airports still closed, travellers quarantined etc.

Not like the European games effect either of our clubs now anyway I suppose 

[S]

Has this been any word from the Premier League about how a potential second wave of the virus would impact the restart?

[rafathegaffa83]

Has this been any word from the Premier League about how a potential second wave of the virus would impact the restart?

Doesn't seem to have been any. The tone of that Times piece the other day about starting next season in September to ensure Euros could be played seemed overly optimistic

[Onward Liverpudlian]

Has this been any word from the Premier League about how a potential second wave of the virus would impact the restart?

I read yesterday they are going to talk about curtailment options in a week or two with some kind of PPG system the favourite.

Everything i've read about a second wave though is that it hasn't happened anywhere yet, a slight bump up in places where restrictions have been relaxed then the number of cases rapidly fall again. Also i've read that a proper 'second wave' (IF it happens) should be in winter but they are still learning about the virus.

[S]

I read yesterday they are going to talk about curtailment options in a week or two with some kind of PPG system the favourite.

Everything i've read about a second wave though is that it hasn't happened anywhere yet, a slight bump up in places where restrictions have been relaxed then the number of cases rapidly fall again. Also i've read that a proper 'second wave' (IF it happens) should be in winter but they are still learning about the virus.

Thanks.

[redgriffin73]

I read yesterday they are going to talk about curtailment options in a week or two with some kind of PPG system the favourite.

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that it would be done on unweighted PPG, which surprised me.

Surely by putting FA Cup games at weekends it could lead to a situation where some teams have played more league games than others again? Why not have FA Cup games midweek and keep the PL games all at the same time?

[Hazell]

Great news about the fa cup. Season still alive. Its getting exciting again, like the lead up to the world cup.

Given the current circumstances, think the FA Cup should be voided.

[El Lobo]

I’m not sure they should be thinking about a cup competition whilst people are dying. Same with the European ones too.

[Ray K]

@tariqpanja
The Champions League final, one of sport’s most-watched annual events, will not be held at its planned site, Istanbul, amid the ongoing crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

European soccer’s governing body UEFA, the event’s organizer, is now considering a number of alternative venues as it plans to complete the competition, which was part way through its round of 16 stage when — like most other sporting events — it paused indefinitely.

Now with national leagues starting to emerge to complete their seasons, UEFA is concluding talks on how to finish the Champions League and its secondary Europa League in August. The Europa League final had been set to be held in Gdansk, Poland. A decision will be made after a meeting of the executive committee on June 17, said the person, who declined to speak publicly because talks on the alternative sites are ongoing.

The Spanish news media reported that UEFA was planning to host this year’s Champions League final, an event that draws more viewers globally than the Super Bowl, in Lisbon. There are a small number of other candidates, according to the person with knowledge of the matter.

[No666]

Shouldn't this year's CL winners have an asterisk against their win? --They'll be able to concentrate fully on Europe rather than playing concurrently in their home leagues, after all.

[Ray K]

Shouldn't this year's CL winners have an asterisk against their win? --They'll be able to concentrate fully on Europe rather than playing concurrently in their home leagues, after all.

By asterisk, I assume you mean it should be null and void, right?

[redgriffin73]

@tariqpanja
according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

according to the person with knowledge of the matter.

I don't know why that phrase made me laugh so much, but it sounds ridiculous, especially when they repeated it.

[Red_Rich]

By the time the fa cup restarts Liverpool would have won the league anyway.

Like we've been saying all along though, there are trickier situations to finalise in the league with relegation and European places.

Would be foolish to restart and have to curtail with 2 games to go or something (not that I think that will happpen mind)

[red_Mark1980]

The thing is, with a behind closed doors, what's the need in holding the European cup anywhere "special".

If the final is between Madrid and Munich, hold it in Paris.

[Mr F]

@tariqpanja
The Champions League final, one of sport’s most-watched annual events, will not be held at its planned site, Istanbul, amid the ongoing crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

These sources get vaguer by the day 

[RainbowFlick]

I'm in a few group chats with matchgoing fans and I'm a little worried that, especially the younger ones, have little-to-no concern for fans and want to get back into the ground "ASAP". I'm sure they overall are the minority, but I would really be keen for SoS, Spion Kop and other fan groups to be vocal in supporting the fight for the doors to be opened only when it is safe for all or matches are opened up to allow for social distancing (i.e. at a significantly less crowd capacity and requiring masks etc).

We shouldn't be ignoring the elderly, the disabled, carers, health workers and others that may not be in a position to "risk" going back to the game before we're sure it's safe.

We need to support our fellow fans so that we can all get back into the ground, safely, one day when it is safe.

Some of these same individuals are wanting to arrange parties and stuff for when football is back. I just hope none of it is grand and surfaces social media as it will be playing into what the FA and government are expecting from us.

[Dave D]

Have we heard from Gary "How many people have to die before it becomes unpalatable?" Neville, or Troy "I've never had to jump for a header while picking up a cucumber." Deeney on the FA Cup restart?

I think it's very disrespectful to restart the FA Cup and European competitions without their blessing and approval.

[afc tukrish]

Given the current circumstances, think the FA Cup should be voided.

But not nulled?

[gazzam1963]

The CL could be completed like a mini World Cup in a safer  country ie Germany , all squads flown in with quarters on a tues / weds , semis on a Sunday and a final on the following Saturday . Gets the need of teams travelling to different countries , the two legs would have to go to the wall for the season but at least it’s completed before the new season .

[UntouchableLuis]

The FA cup actually has potential to be interesting now BCD - rather than most teams shitting it and rolling over for City, I think they'll gain more confidence from the slightly different feel of games. I'd still expect City to get to the final but might be trickier than usual for them.

I'm glad it's being played out personally. If we somehow manage to get the league, FA cup and CL all played out by September then we can start to get back to normal. It would have been a total mess if some or none of those competitions could be completed.

The CL is definitely the challenge as others have said but I think it could be played in a 'safer' country over a few weeks in August if travel allows for the players and staff to all get there.

[redgriffin73]

Yeah, I agree. Also, although I shouldn't care what rival fans think, at least it means other teams will be winning cups and it won't just be us being derided for "celebrating during a pandemic" etc. Well, maybe.

[J_Kopite]

Literally one of the worst accounts on twitter this. He has thousands of virgin schoolboys hanging off his every word as well. So good to see how bitter he is about us winning the league. Reminds me of Stephen Howson's "You might as well be Celtic" rant.


https://twitter.com/RiZzyUTD/status/1266067318544744450

STOP. POSTING. THE. THOUGHTS. OF. CHILDREN. FROM. "FOOTBALL TWITTER." ON. HERE.

[UntouchableLuis]

Yeah, I agree. Also, although I shouldn't care what rival fans think, at least it means other teams will be winning cups and it won't just be us being derided for "celebrating during a pandemic" etc. Well, maybe.

Putting the hilarity aside of the CL being 'voided' for example, it's in football's best interests to get everything completed. This is what the null and void idiots have never understood - I have no problem with the CL going ahead and finding a winner, it's not going to be City, and even if it is they obviously wont count it at a time like this.

[Gerry Attrick]

Brendan Rodgers had it a couple of months ago.

[Samie]

Did he show character to recover?

[El Lobo]

STOP. POSTING. THE. THOUGHTS. OF. CHILDREN. FROM. "FOOTBALL TWITTER." ON. HERE.

Please. Really....please.

[Jm55]

Putting the hilarity aside of the CL being 'voided' for example, it's in football's best interests to get everything completed. This is what the null and void idiots have never understood - I have no problem with the CL going ahead and finding a winner, it's not going to be City, and even if it is they obviously wont count it at a time like this.

Absolutely.

I’m made up they’re completing the FA Cup and seemingly the CL as it means I’ve got more football to watch.

We can’t win it every year and I’d give us every chance of being competitive in it again next season - if Alisson has been fit for the 2nd leg v Atletico the chances are we’d still be in it.

It looks like this years final will no longer be Istanbul so hopefully they delay it to next season and we manage to get there.

[thekitkatshuffler]

Brendan Rodgers had it a couple of months ago.

He also climbed Kilimanjaro once, y'know.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

Yeah there is that, currently 25c in Barcelona. Have been to spain a few times this time of the year and its always been mid 20's in the day but does cool of a night, did Majorca one august and it was mid 30's of a night, no way you'd want to play footy in that

cant they play them very late at night, i remember years ago there was a barca game at midnight for some mad reason, Ronaldinho scored a worldie in it

https://youtu.be/pCXwTqoFaMA

And this is why, Sevilla insisted it had to be on a Wednesday and barca wanted it on Tuesday so they did 12.05am on the Wednesday

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/sep/04/europeanfootball.sport

[sinnermichael]

Brendan Rodgers had it a couple of months ago.

Apparently he has the names of the people he may have caught it off in three envelopes.