Comment deleted by Site Moderator
Good.
They are doing what the PL should have done from minute one.
If the PL had informed clubs that no matter what, there would be relegation, and promotion this season, you would have had a much more honest approach, and discussion, from all the clubs involved.
Some mixed messages in that piece, on one hand saying season mustang be null and void matches must be played and must be based on sporting merit, but then saying Leeds could go yup without playing matches.
All the focus has been on Prem without much being said of other divisions.
The Prem in a complete mess as they can't get consensus amongst all parties.
Has anything definite come out of their meeting today?
There is no mixed message at all.
No where does it say matches must be played.
And yes sporting merit would be be awarding positions based on how well they have played the sport this season.
That's taking the null and void option out of the equation. So no option to follow the dutch example but could follow the french.
The FA can't be taken seriously. They've let down the nation time and time again countless times over the last 20 plus years. Weak, lame, toothless, idiotic and woefully stuck in 66. They've got no power in what happens. Stick to scre win g up everything else football related.
The Premier League says it has listened to the objections of some clubs to the use of neutral grounds if the season resumes and will support them in putting those views to the authorities.
Chief executive Richard Masters said the organisation was in an "ongoing dialogue" with government, police and ground safety officials.
"Everybody would prefer to play at home and away if at all possible, and it's clear to see some clubs feel more strongly about that than others," he said after a shareholders' meeting.
"We are in contact with the authorities and listening to that advice, while also representing club views in those discussions."
He said "a really strong collective will to complete the season remains" but admitted that "curtailment" of the season was discussed for the first time at the meeting.
Two weeks ago clubs were told neutral stadiums were the only way the season could be completed, because authorities were concerned about fans congregating outside home grounds and breaching social distancing rules.
But at least six clubs are opposed to the proposal in the Project Restart plan, with Watford, Aston Villa and Brighton coming out publicly against it.
Those clubs now want the chance to show they can deliver home and away matches safely, and league bosses are behind them.
"Since Covid became an issue we've been talking to the authorities about the conditions in which we could get the Premier League back up and running and taking all that advice on board, but it is an ongoing dialogue," said Masters, speaking for the first time since the season was suspended.
"But all must be cognisant of what authorities are telling us, and we'll continue with that consultation."
The government is understood to have "open ears" regarding neutral venues and is prepared to discuss the matter. However a final decision is likely to rest with the police and ground safety officials, who have to grant licences to venues.
Last week the head of the UK's football policing unit, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, said clubs opposed to neutral grounds should "get a grip".
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson also told the BBC he feared thousands of the club's fans would gather outside Anfield to celebrate the title, even if matches were played at neutral venues.
However, recently retired West Yorkshire chief superintendent Owen West told the Guardian that the use of neutral stadiums had "no rationale", and such a proposal was not being enforced in Germany where the Bundesliga hopes to resume this weekend.
Despite mounting tension and division over the use of neutral stadiums, Masters said Monday's five-hour meeting showed a "strong desire to discuss everything in the round, and to agree a collective way forward".
He insisted a "really strong collective will to complete the season remains".
But he also admitted than a cancellation of the season was discussed for the first time.
"It's the first time we've discussed curtailment," he said. "It's still our aim to finish the season obviously, but it's important to discuss all of the options with our clubs.
"Obviously we won't be playing until the middle of June. It doesn't seem quite right to be talking about playing before we've taken a decision to return to the first stage of training.
"But in terms of how those matches will take place there's a lot of water to pass under the bridge, and we'll continue to assess the circumstances then.
"What was agreed today was that players can extend their contracts beyond 30 June, until the end of the season.
"It must be agreed by both parties and a later date can be scheduled for that, no later than 23 June so that date was pushed back a little to help with that situation."
What would be the point of using neutral venues now?
So for instance Liverpool play their decisive game at Elland Road
What stops every scouser from taking their exercise in Leeds at the same time as the game.
May as well all play the games where they belong
Good on the FA. The way some clubs are acting is disgusting - if it wasn't neutral venues, it would be something else.
If they don't want to finish the games, then the season ends on current standings.
It's been confirmed that the season must end on sporting merit, which rules out null and void.
The Premier League plans to restart in June and the EFL will most likley end on PPG.
PPG sends us up as champions on 88 points.
Get ready lads.
Where is this confirmation?
Maybe I’ve missed it but all I’ve seen is discussion.
comment by White BL (U12676)
posted 1 hour, 38 minutes ago
What would be the point of using neutral venues now?
So for instance Liverpool play their decisive game at Elland Road
What stops every scouser from taking their exercise in Leeds at the same time as the game.
May as well all play the games where they belong
--------------------------------------
Given that very few people will actually need to be at these games, it is possible that venues are only announced just before kickoff or maybe not at all. Much harder for fans to show up at a distant location than at their club's home stadium.
Treasure hunt premier league....
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-liverpool-set-to-be-champions-as-premier-league-rules-out-voiding-season-11986674
comment by Bumble (U6465)
posted 3 hours, 46 minutes ago
The FA can't be taken seriously. They've let down the nation time and time again countless times over the last 20 plus years. Weak, lame, toothless, idiotic and woefully stuck in 66. They've got no power in what happens. Stick to scre win g up everything else football related.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Football Association (The FA) is the national governing body for football in England and is responsible for sanctioning competition Rule Books, including the Premier League's, and regulating on-field matters. ... Each year, the Premier League submits its rules to The FA for approval and sanction.
Nice try but what they decide will happen. The PL season will end on merit and relegation will mean the EFL will follow suit.
From the Sky link above:
‘The idea of the season being null-and-voided was officially ruled out by an FA intervention at a teleconference meeting of Premier League executives on Monday.‘
And this about an hour ago may be why
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52579299
"Premier League clubs have been told they could have to repay an estimated £340m to domestic and international broadcasters - even if the season resumes behind closed doors."
Sorry still don’t see any confirmations just discussions.
I’m all fir trying as best they can to recognise achievement (merit) which can seem straightforward fir some situations but will have multiple permutations and outcomes for others at say bottom of prem.
For example you do ppg you get one set of bottom 3, you do home ppg and away of you get a different bottom 3 etc.
They can’t please everyone and have to accept there will be some fall out.
Trying to take leeds hat off, what you hope is that there are no obvious travesties, for example restarting and Liverpool side all unavailable due to player fears they then lose all their bcd door matches and finish second.
It’s sods law that happens to someone somehow and that’s more important regarding integrity than would it be Fulham 3rd or Brentford 3rd for example.
comment by White BL (U12676)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
And this about an hour ago may be why
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52579299
"Premier League clubs have been told they could have to repay an estimated £340m to domestic and international broadcasters - even if the season resumes behind closed doors."
---------------------------------------
Never understood why people were saying the tv companies would understand and let them off.
Contracts are contracts.
Sand with the players, you can’t just assume they’ll all agree to extend their contracts to facilitate extending season.
Insurance and contracts should have had clauses for pandemic same as wimbledon had.
-------------------------------
Should have, could have, would have.
Not helpful at this time.
Not wrong, but not relevant at the moment.
Players would do well to wake up and smell the exclusive coffee beans they use in their coffee.
Beware the slaying of the golden goose!
You would hope all parties, players included can see the reality of finances but it feels like we’re on an alternative earth with no pandemic the way multi million pound transfers are being talked about as if revenues are going to continue in pre pandemic style.
Football still hasn’t smelt the coffee it seems.
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 4 minutes ago
You would hope all parties, players included can see the reality of finances but it feels like we’re on an alternative earth with no pandemic the way multi million pound transfers are being talked about as if revenues are going to continue in pre pandemic style.
Football still hasn’t smelt the coffee it seems.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Makes Leeds United's proactive, early decision making all the more laudable!
Jonty, I remember your decent collection of Leeds United Books. Have you read “No Glossing Over It..l by Gary Edwards?
I hope the deferral rather than cut doesn’t come back to hurt us but yes good to see us leading the way there.
Haven’t read it, is it good?
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 6 hours, 49 minutes ago
comment by White BL (U12676)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
And this about an hour ago may be why
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52579299
"Premier League clubs have been told they could have to repay an estimated £340m to domestic and international broadcasters - even if the season resumes behind closed doors."
---------------------------------------
Never understood why people were saying the tv companies would understand and let them off.
Contracts are contracts.
Sand with the players, you can’t just assume they’ll all agree to extend their contracts to facilitate extending season.
Insurance and contracts should have had clauses for pandemic same as wimbledon had.
-------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Which is why a lot of people including me can not understand why you think the best way to help save clubs financially was to cancel the season and therefore massively reduce the revenue for the season even further.
It’s clear that clubs need to maximise the tv revenue at this point to reduce the impact of losses elsewhere as much as possible.
The Football Association has told the Premier League clubs that the 2019-20 season must be settled by “sporting merit”, potentially splitting the six bottom clubs over how to finish the season.
It means that issues like relegation, top four and the title must be settled by either playing the remaining fixtures, or a mathematical formula based on games played, with a weighted points-per-game under consideration.
Voiding the season remains completely off the table.
The announcement marked the first time that the possibility of curtailing the season was discussed at a Premier League meeting, but that is still just a contingency plan, as the primary aim is to complete the fixture list.
The competition will go back to government on the possibility of using their own stadiums, however, as the majority of clubs have asked to push the issue of neutral venues to the limit. All would naturally prefer to play their games in the restarted season at home, but many accept it is unlikely to be possible. It is an issue that has naturally exercised the clubs at the bottom most, given it could influence relegation.
The announcement from the FA came at the very start of Monday’s crunch videoconference, and immediately took some of the expected tension out of the meeting. The Independent has been told that the FA’s hand was forced by the amount of politicking over ‘Project Restart’ in the last few weeks, and felt the need to act.
The governing body’s board came to unanimous agreement on the decision.
It effectively means it is now in the interest of the bottom three clubs – Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich City – to play the remaining fixtures, regardless of the conditions, as they would be more likely to get relegated in the event of a mathematical formula being used. That is not the case for those above, and means the bottom six could be split.
That group of clubs had recently been unified in their opposition to playing in neutral grounds, even though that had been a non-negotiable government condition on getting back playing. It led to suspicion among some figures in the game that the bottom six were playing for time, especially since Uefa have set a 25 May deadline for decisions on how to complete the league.
The FA announcement has negated that and ensured there are now only two possibilities: play out the season, or settle it in another manner.
Such suspicions had meant many expected a fractious videoconference, but the decision took much tension away.
That same tension may well eventually rise again depending on the mathematical formula used in the event the season is curtailed, though.
The Premier League would consider a variety of different models, but an issue is they have different outcomes. If it was purely points-per-game, for example, Bournemouth would go down. If it was weighted points-per-game – like some extrapolation of home and away fixtures – West Ham United would go down. The latter could also see Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal switch places.
On a video press conference after Monday meeting, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters was keen to point out this remains a last resort.
“It was the first time we discussed curtailment – it’s still our aim to finish the season obviously but it’s important to discuss all the options with our clubs. Obviously we reflected on [the prime minister’s] statement last night and the fuller statement that came out right at the end of the meeting and what that means for us.”
As regards neutral stadiums, an issue which has proven a potential stumbling block to ‘Project Restart’ due to the wide disagreement on it, Masters said they would at least continue consultations.
“Just to reiterate that, I think everybody would prefer to play home and away if at all possible. And I think it’s clear to see that some clubs feel more strongly about that than others. It is an ongoing dialogue and obviously we’ve been talking to - since Covid-19 became an issue – we’ve been talking to the authorities about the conditions in which we could get the Premier League back up and running and taking all that advice on board. But it is an ongoing dialogue.
“There is not much I can say about that, other than we are in contact with the authorities and listening to that advice while also representing club views in those discussions.
“Those are future conversations we may need to have. There was a desire to see all the different implications; the adaptions, if you like, to the Premier League model as we know in order to play out the season and then discuss what the fairest way forward is.”
Masters similarly revealed that there would be meetings with players and club staff this week to discuss safety concerns. Many club employees up to now had questioned why so many discussions had been taken without yet consulting those actually involved.
“No decisions will be made until after we have talked to players and managers and those meetings are scheduled for later this week,” Masters said.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/pl-project-restart-coronavirus-latest-sporting-merit-relegation-a9508601.html
I think everyone apart from Jonty now realises that’s the FA have confirmed to the PL that null and void is off the table.
Not sure what more he wants other than maybe a personal letter from them ?
Joking apart I’m sure someone will issue a statement in due course.
FA flexing their muscles.
Page 1 of 5
posted on 11/5/20
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 11/5/20
Good.
They are doing what the PL should have done from minute one.
If the PL had informed clubs that no matter what, there would be relegation, and promotion this season, you would have had a much more honest approach, and discussion, from all the clubs involved.
posted on 11/5/20
Some mixed messages in that piece, on one hand saying season mustang be null and void matches must be played and must be based on sporting merit, but then saying Leeds could go yup without playing matches.
All the focus has been on Prem without much being said of other divisions.
The Prem in a complete mess as they can't get consensus amongst all parties.
Has anything definite come out of their meeting today?
posted on 11/5/20
There is no mixed message at all.
No where does it say matches must be played.
And yes sporting merit would be be awarding positions based on how well they have played the sport this season.
That's taking the null and void option out of the equation. So no option to follow the dutch example but could follow the french.
posted on 11/5/20
The FA can't be taken seriously. They've let down the nation time and time again countless times over the last 20 plus years. Weak, lame, toothless, idiotic and woefully stuck in 66. They've got no power in what happens. Stick to scre win g up everything else football related.
posted on 11/5/20
The Premier League says it has listened to the objections of some clubs to the use of neutral grounds if the season resumes and will support them in putting those views to the authorities.
Chief executive Richard Masters said the organisation was in an "ongoing dialogue" with government, police and ground safety officials.
"Everybody would prefer to play at home and away if at all possible, and it's clear to see some clubs feel more strongly about that than others," he said after a shareholders' meeting.
"We are in contact with the authorities and listening to that advice, while also representing club views in those discussions."
He said "a really strong collective will to complete the season remains" but admitted that "curtailment" of the season was discussed for the first time at the meeting.
Two weeks ago clubs were told neutral stadiums were the only way the season could be completed, because authorities were concerned about fans congregating outside home grounds and breaching social distancing rules.
But at least six clubs are opposed to the proposal in the Project Restart plan, with Watford, Aston Villa and Brighton coming out publicly against it.
Those clubs now want the chance to show they can deliver home and away matches safely, and league bosses are behind them.
"Since Covid became an issue we've been talking to the authorities about the conditions in which we could get the Premier League back up and running and taking all that advice on board, but it is an ongoing dialogue," said Masters, speaking for the first time since the season was suspended.
"But all must be cognisant of what authorities are telling us, and we'll continue with that consultation."
The government is understood to have "open ears" regarding neutral venues and is prepared to discuss the matter. However a final decision is likely to rest with the police and ground safety officials, who have to grant licences to venues.
Last week the head of the UK's football policing unit, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, said clubs opposed to neutral grounds should "get a grip".
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson also told the BBC he feared thousands of the club's fans would gather outside Anfield to celebrate the title, even if matches were played at neutral venues.
However, recently retired West Yorkshire chief superintendent Owen West told the Guardian that the use of neutral stadiums had "no rationale", and such a proposal was not being enforced in Germany where the Bundesliga hopes to resume this weekend.
Despite mounting tension and division over the use of neutral stadiums, Masters said Monday's five-hour meeting showed a "strong desire to discuss everything in the round, and to agree a collective way forward".
He insisted a "really strong collective will to complete the season remains".
But he also admitted than a cancellation of the season was discussed for the first time.
"It's the first time we've discussed curtailment," he said. "It's still our aim to finish the season obviously, but it's important to discuss all of the options with our clubs.
"Obviously we won't be playing until the middle of June. It doesn't seem quite right to be talking about playing before we've taken a decision to return to the first stage of training.
"But in terms of how those matches will take place there's a lot of water to pass under the bridge, and we'll continue to assess the circumstances then.
"What was agreed today was that players can extend their contracts beyond 30 June, until the end of the season.
"It must be agreed by both parties and a later date can be scheduled for that, no later than 23 June so that date was pushed back a little to help with that situation."
posted on 11/5/20
What would be the point of using neutral venues now?
So for instance Liverpool play their decisive game at Elland Road
What stops every scouser from taking their exercise in Leeds at the same time as the game.
May as well all play the games where they belong
posted on 11/5/20
Good on the FA. The way some clubs are acting is disgusting - if it wasn't neutral venues, it would be something else.
If they don't want to finish the games, then the season ends on current standings.
posted on 11/5/20
It's been confirmed that the season must end on sporting merit, which rules out null and void.
The Premier League plans to restart in June and the EFL will most likley end on PPG.
PPG sends us up as champions on 88 points.
Get ready lads.
posted on 11/5/20
Where is this confirmation?
Maybe I’ve missed it but all I’ve seen is discussion.
posted on 11/5/20
comment by White BL (U12676)
posted 1 hour, 38 minutes ago
What would be the point of using neutral venues now?
So for instance Liverpool play their decisive game at Elland Road
What stops every scouser from taking their exercise in Leeds at the same time as the game.
May as well all play the games where they belong
--------------------------------------
Given that very few people will actually need to be at these games, it is possible that venues are only announced just before kickoff or maybe not at all. Much harder for fans to show up at a distant location than at their club's home stadium.
posted on 11/5/20
Treasure hunt premier league....
posted on 11/5/20
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-liverpool-set-to-be-champions-as-premier-league-rules-out-voiding-season-11986674
posted on 11/5/20
comment by Bumble (U6465)
posted 3 hours, 46 minutes ago
The FA can't be taken seriously. They've let down the nation time and time again countless times over the last 20 plus years. Weak, lame, toothless, idiotic and woefully stuck in 66. They've got no power in what happens. Stick to scre win g up everything else football related.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Football Association (The FA) is the national governing body for football in England and is responsible for sanctioning competition Rule Books, including the Premier League's, and regulating on-field matters. ... Each year, the Premier League submits its rules to The FA for approval and sanction.
Nice try but what they decide will happen. The PL season will end on merit and relegation will mean the EFL will follow suit.
posted on 11/5/20
From the Sky link above:
‘The idea of the season being null-and-voided was officially ruled out by an FA intervention at a teleconference meeting of Premier League executives on Monday.‘
posted on 11/5/20
And this about an hour ago may be why
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52579299
"Premier League clubs have been told they could have to repay an estimated £340m to domestic and international broadcasters - even if the season resumes behind closed doors."
posted on 11/5/20
Sorry still don’t see any confirmations just discussions.
I’m all fir trying as best they can to recognise achievement (merit) which can seem straightforward fir some situations but will have multiple permutations and outcomes for others at say bottom of prem.
For example you do ppg you get one set of bottom 3, you do home ppg and away of you get a different bottom 3 etc.
They can’t please everyone and have to accept there will be some fall out.
Trying to take leeds hat off, what you hope is that there are no obvious travesties, for example restarting and Liverpool side all unavailable due to player fears they then lose all their bcd door matches and finish second.
It’s sods law that happens to someone somehow and that’s more important regarding integrity than would it be Fulham 3rd or Brentford 3rd for example.
posted on 11/5/20
comment by White BL (U12676)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
And this about an hour ago may be why
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52579299
"Premier League clubs have been told they could have to repay an estimated £340m to domestic and international broadcasters - even if the season resumes behind closed doors."
---------------------------------------
Never understood why people were saying the tv companies would understand and let them off.
Contracts are contracts.
Sand with the players, you can’t just assume they’ll all agree to extend their contracts to facilitate extending season.
Insurance and contracts should have had clauses for pandemic same as wimbledon had.
-------------------------------
posted on 12/5/20
Should have, could have, would have.
Not helpful at this time.
Not wrong, but not relevant at the moment.
Players would do well to wake up and smell the exclusive coffee beans they use in their coffee.
Beware the slaying of the golden goose!
posted on 12/5/20
You would hope all parties, players included can see the reality of finances but it feels like we’re on an alternative earth with no pandemic the way multi million pound transfers are being talked about as if revenues are going to continue in pre pandemic style.
Football still hasn’t smelt the coffee it seems.
posted on 12/5/20
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 4 minutes ago
You would hope all parties, players included can see the reality of finances but it feels like we’re on an alternative earth with no pandemic the way multi million pound transfers are being talked about as if revenues are going to continue in pre pandemic style.
Football still hasn’t smelt the coffee it seems.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Makes Leeds United's proactive, early decision making all the more laudable!
Jonty, I remember your decent collection of Leeds United Books. Have you read “No Glossing Over It..l by Gary Edwards?
posted on 12/5/20
I hope the deferral rather than cut doesn’t come back to hurt us but yes good to see us leading the way there.
Haven’t read it, is it good?
posted on 12/5/20
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 6 hours, 49 minutes ago
comment by White BL (U12676)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
And this about an hour ago may be why
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52579299
"Premier League clubs have been told they could have to repay an estimated £340m to domestic and international broadcasters - even if the season resumes behind closed doors."
---------------------------------------
Never understood why people were saying the tv companies would understand and let them off.
Contracts are contracts.
Sand with the players, you can’t just assume they’ll all agree to extend their contracts to facilitate extending season.
Insurance and contracts should have had clauses for pandemic same as wimbledon had.
-------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Which is why a lot of people including me can not understand why you think the best way to help save clubs financially was to cancel the season and therefore massively reduce the revenue for the season even further.
It’s clear that clubs need to maximise the tv revenue at this point to reduce the impact of losses elsewhere as much as possible.
posted on 12/5/20
The Football Association has told the Premier League clubs that the 2019-20 season must be settled by “sporting merit”, potentially splitting the six bottom clubs over how to finish the season.
It means that issues like relegation, top four and the title must be settled by either playing the remaining fixtures, or a mathematical formula based on games played, with a weighted points-per-game under consideration.
Voiding the season remains completely off the table.
The announcement marked the first time that the possibility of curtailing the season was discussed at a Premier League meeting, but that is still just a contingency plan, as the primary aim is to complete the fixture list.
The competition will go back to government on the possibility of using their own stadiums, however, as the majority of clubs have asked to push the issue of neutral venues to the limit. All would naturally prefer to play their games in the restarted season at home, but many accept it is unlikely to be possible. It is an issue that has naturally exercised the clubs at the bottom most, given it could influence relegation.
The announcement from the FA came at the very start of Monday’s crunch videoconference, and immediately took some of the expected tension out of the meeting. The Independent has been told that the FA’s hand was forced by the amount of politicking over ‘Project Restart’ in the last few weeks, and felt the need to act.
The governing body’s board came to unanimous agreement on the decision.
It effectively means it is now in the interest of the bottom three clubs – Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich City – to play the remaining fixtures, regardless of the conditions, as they would be more likely to get relegated in the event of a mathematical formula being used. That is not the case for those above, and means the bottom six could be split.
That group of clubs had recently been unified in their opposition to playing in neutral grounds, even though that had been a non-negotiable government condition on getting back playing. It led to suspicion among some figures in the game that the bottom six were playing for time, especially since Uefa have set a 25 May deadline for decisions on how to complete the league.
The FA announcement has negated that and ensured there are now only two possibilities: play out the season, or settle it in another manner.
Such suspicions had meant many expected a fractious videoconference, but the decision took much tension away.
That same tension may well eventually rise again depending on the mathematical formula used in the event the season is curtailed, though.
The Premier League would consider a variety of different models, but an issue is they have different outcomes. If it was purely points-per-game, for example, Bournemouth would go down. If it was weighted points-per-game – like some extrapolation of home and away fixtures – West Ham United would go down. The latter could also see Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal switch places.
On a video press conference after Monday meeting, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters was keen to point out this remains a last resort.
“It was the first time we discussed curtailment – it’s still our aim to finish the season obviously but it’s important to discuss all the options with our clubs. Obviously we reflected on [the prime minister’s] statement last night and the fuller statement that came out right at the end of the meeting and what that means for us.”
As regards neutral stadiums, an issue which has proven a potential stumbling block to ‘Project Restart’ due to the wide disagreement on it, Masters said they would at least continue consultations.
“Just to reiterate that, I think everybody would prefer to play home and away if at all possible. And I think it’s clear to see that some clubs feel more strongly about that than others. It is an ongoing dialogue and obviously we’ve been talking to - since Covid-19 became an issue – we’ve been talking to the authorities about the conditions in which we could get the Premier League back up and running and taking all that advice on board. But it is an ongoing dialogue.
“There is not much I can say about that, other than we are in contact with the authorities and listening to that advice while also representing club views in those discussions.
“Those are future conversations we may need to have. There was a desire to see all the different implications; the adaptions, if you like, to the Premier League model as we know in order to play out the season and then discuss what the fairest way forward is.”
Masters similarly revealed that there would be meetings with players and club staff this week to discuss safety concerns. Many club employees up to now had questioned why so many discussions had been taken without yet consulting those actually involved.
“No decisions will be made until after we have talked to players and managers and those meetings are scheduled for later this week,” Masters said.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/pl-project-restart-coronavirus-latest-sporting-merit-relegation-a9508601.html
posted on 12/5/20
I think everyone apart from Jonty now realises that’s the FA have confirmed to the PL that null and void is off the table.
Not sure what more he wants other than maybe a personal letter from them ?
Joking apart I’m sure someone will issue a statement in due course.
Page 1 of 5