English football to be played behind closed doors

[1989_claret]

Several reports this morning saying it will be announced today that football matches in England are to move behind closed doors and:

• The season will not be postponed
• Ticket holders will be able to stream games online
• No games will be shown in pubs

[bfcfan1882]

£30 to stream the City game?

No thanks - where do I get my refund?

[Bfcboyo]

I happen to know Harry Garlick and he has confirmed this.

[Coolbreeze799]

Where is the door at the turf?

[Firthy]

Well it worked last night in the Champions league at PSG. Played behind closed doors but thousands of fans surrounded the stadium so achieved nothing really. Supporters will just gather in different areas like outside the ground and in pubs. All it does is limit the clubs liability if anyone catches it.

[claretblue]

All it does is limit the clubs liability if anyone catches it

Adrian wont catch it!

[damo_whitehead]

Well it worked last night in the Champions league at PSG. Played behind closed doors but thousands of fans surrounded the stadium so achieved nothing really. Supporters will just gather in different areas like outside the ground and in pubs. All it does is limit the clubs liability if anyone catches it.

Personally don't see the point of gathering like that, j mean fair enough if you want to but I literally see no purpose

Pubs reportedly will be banned from showing football to stop the gathering in pubs, instead fans will be sent links to a strdam, which then I admit could be used in a gathering.

[FactualFrank]

Adrian wont catch it!

Neither will Rocky.

[Tricky Trevor]

Supporters will just gather in different areas like outside the ground and in pubs.

The UK, if it happens, have said available on tv but not to pubs.

[Gordaleman]

One thread about this claim has already been closed for being inaccurate.

The Health Minister said last night in Parliament that the science suggested it would be ineffective.

[nil_desperandum]

All it does is limit the clubs liability if anyone catches it.

In what sense would the club have a liability?
Not that I'm playing down the potential health risks, but it would be my decision whether to attend a football match, (even if advised not to do so), no one would be compelling me to attend.
Has there been mention somewhere of clubs having a risk of liability? (Genuine question, since it could impact on other areas of my social life).

[Claret32yrs]

The UK, if it happens, have said available on tv but not to pubs.

Be interesting how they'd do that. Most sensible option would be make it free to view for all. Not everyone has Sky/BT. Many 'fans' who would go to the pub to watch won't be able to. I guess you could argue you could get a 'day pass' for a game which is cheaper than going on but it could also mean a massive increase in illegal streaming. Some sort of deal with one of the terrestrial channels, or all of them would seem a sensible approach.

[Gordaleman]

The UK, if it happens, have said available on tv but not to pubs.

Actually, it's not the UK that said that, it was the Times newspaper which was copied into the Mail and the Liverpool Echo.

The Health Minister said said last night that the science suggested it would be ineffective at this stage, if at all.

[NewClaret]

Really hope this doesn’t happen. Had tickets for the City game & was really looking forward to it.

Good or bad for Burnley? Personally feel we’re a team that plays with spirit & heart that is hard to recreate without fans in the stadium, so suspect it would be bad for us.

[Devils_Advocate]

My biggest concern is how this will impact the Rate the Ref feature. Years of hard work could be destroyed if we have nobody inside the grounds to give their opinions and scores

[Winstonswhite]

It looks inevitable that this is going to happen but I think I’d prefer it to just be suspended for the time being or is that not feasible? Playing behind closed doors would be catastrophic for all clubs outside the Premier League.

[ElectroClaret]

Good or bad for Burnley?

Might be bad for us, but it'd be terrible for clubs like Accy Stanley, who regard income on the gate as
very important.

[tim_noone]

One thread about this claim has already been closed for being inaccurate.

The Health Minister said last night in Parliament that the science suggested it would be ineffective.

To Quote CT. Misleading..... so hes taken the "sensible" Approach and closed the thread. That's fine.

[ChorltonCharlie]

Might be bad for us, but it'd be terrible for clubs like Accy Stanley, who regard income on the gate as
very important.

It's a minefield. I think the EFL should be suspended, and somehow try and condense games once the suspension is lifted. I don't think the PL has that luxury, and closed doors might need to be how it's done. That's because of the knock on effect of fitting in around the Chumps and Europa League, plus trying not to disrupt the Euro's if at all possible.

[dsr]

It looks inevitable that this is going to happen but I think I’d prefer it to just be suspended for the time being or is that not feasible? Playing behind closed doors would be catastrophic for all clubs outside the Premier League.

I don't see it'll make much difference to the clubs whether they're paying the players to play behind closed doors, or paying the players not to play at all.

If they don't finish the season, who gets promoted and relegated?

[Spijed]

It's a minefield. I think the EFL should be suspended, and somehow try and condense games once the suspension is lifted. I don't think the PL has that luxury, and closed doors might need to be how it's done. That's because of the knock on effect of fitting in around the Chumps and Europa League, plus trying not to disrupt the Euro's if at all possible.

Next season, surely the PL can look at every blank week, when there is no European game and play matches twice a week in that instance.

The Championship play 46 matches compared to 38 so it should be possible to squeeze a few more midweek games in.

[Gordaleman]

I'll say again.

One thread about this claim that this week-end's matches would be played behind closed doors has already been closed for being inaccurate.

The Health Minister said last night in Parliament that the science suggested it would be ineffective, although he didn't rule it out indefinitely.

Can you find anything in today's news to corroborate it?

[ChorltonCharlie]

Next season, surely the PL can look at every blank week, when there is no European game and play matches twice a week in that instance.

The Championship play 46 matches compared to 38 so it should be possible to squeeze a few more midweek games in.

Who knows, but I would suspect they want to wrap it up well before then. Can we really have teams going off for the Euro's and then returning and finalising the league table? What about the transfer window? That couldn't happen until after the season has fully finished, and either would have to be condensed or run alongside the regular season for some time. I also don't think there's that many spare weeks.

There's been noises coming out of the PL for the last week that games will inevitably be played behind closed doors, so where possible I think that's what they'll do. We know that isn't an option for the EFL though.

[Spijed]

Who knows, but I would suspect they want to wrap it up well before then. Can we really have teams going off for the Euro's and then returning and finalising the league table? What about the transfer window? That couldn't happen until after the season has fully finished, and either would have to be condensed or run alongside the regular season for some time. I also don't think there's that many spare weeks.

There's been noises coming out of the PL for the last week that games will inevitably be played behind closed doors, so where possible I think that's what they'll do. We know that isn't an option for the EFL though.

I was thinking about perhaps starting next season 3-4 weeks later and using any blank weeks, and even scrapping the new winter break to make up for lost time. That should get them back on track fairly quickly.

[dsr]

I was thinking about perhaps starting next season 3-4 weeks later and using any blank weeks, and even scrapping the new winter break to make up for lost time. That should get them back on track fairly quickly.

The "big six" won't stand for it. Their players are already tired if they have to play 30 games a season. And as the FA concurs with the "big six" that football is played for their benefit and theirs alone, they aren't going to shorten the season by a few weeks and still expect the players to play the same number of games.

[Winstonswhite]

I don't see it'll make much difference to the clubs whether they're paying the players to play behind closed doors, or paying the players not to play at all.

If they don't finish the season, who gets promoted and relegated?

Well I know it sounds ridiculous but you’d have to cancel the season. No title for Liverpool and no promotion for Leeds!

[ChorltonCharlie]

I don't think there are blank weeks. There might be for us, but there's cup and euro fixture scheduled the vast majority of midweeks.

[Gordaleman]

I was thinking about perhaps starting next season 3-4 weeks later and using any blank weeks, and even scrapping the new winter break to make up for lost time. That should get them back on track fairly quickly.

With the peak of this virus not expected for another two months, it could prove more than a little problematic.

However, games are NOT being cancelled as yet.

[Wile E Coyote]

there are rumours of a prem club awaiting test results as 3 players ill, so its anyones guess as to where it will lead.

[nil_desperandum]

If they don't finish the season, who gets promoted and relegated?

Interesting question, but if the season isn't completed then one would assume that the only option would be for all results to be null and void, and all records wiped, so we would start again as you were with no relegation or promotion.
However, I really don't think that it will happen with only a relatively few games left and the undesirable option of behind closed doors fixtures
Having said that it would be quite funny if after all these years Liverpool's fantastic record were to be erased and they still haven't won the PL.

[ChorltonCharlie]

With the peak of this virus not expected for another two months, it could prove more than a little problematic.

However, games are NOT being cancelled as yet.

We know. However, it's widely accepted in the PL that it is an inevitability. I've no idea why you keep feeling the need to repeat yourself. People are just speculating.

[Sausage]

I happen to know Harry Garlick and he has confirmed this.

Never trust a TV salesman.

[Spijed]

Tensions between the EFL & Prem:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51852461

[Gordaleman]

We know. However, it's widely accepted in the PL that it is an inevitability. I've no idea why you keep feeling the need to repeat yourself. People are just speculating.

I repeat myself because the thread headline states that all games will be played behind closed doors THIS week-end. It appears that they won't. Speculation on something as serious as Covid 19 is not helpful.

[TVC15]

We’ll find out after todays Cobra meeting.
But most of the media outlets are saying it is highly likely that they will be behind closed doors. One reported that the trigger for this to happen was 500 cases and we were very close to that figure yesterday.

Guess we’ll find out soon.

Title of this thread and the closed one is misleading as it has not been announced but things are definitely moving quickly from the governments original views on this. La Liga now confirmed next 2 set of fixtures behind closed doors and think we could do that as it takes you up to the international break which will no doubt be impacted and gives government time to assess where we are.

No surprise people on a football messageboard are speculating though !!

[TVC15]

I repeat myself because the thread headline states that all games will be played behind closed doors THIS week-end. It appears that they won't. Speculation on something as serious as Covid 19 is not helpful.

Chill out - it’s not speculating on “something as serious as Covid 19”
.....it’s speculating on something that in the scheme of things is not that important - football !!

[HieronymousBoschHobs]

Thread title should be changed to ‘RUMOURS that English football is to be played behind closed doors’ then.

[Spike]

if we are" grounded " by the government that must include not going to work. surely i have more chance of getting a virus in a warm unventilated office than at an open-air Sports event!

[Gordaleman]

if we are" grounded " by the government that must include not going to work. surely i have more chance of getting a virus in a warm unventilated office than at an open-air Sports event!

Precisely why the government is not thinking of closing stadiums at this time. (Matt Hancock said last night.) It may change though as more people become infected.

[TVC15]

Precisely why the government is not thinking of closing stadiums at this time. (Matt Hancock said last night.) It may change though as more people become infected.

Of course they are thinking about it.
I doubt he said they weren’t thinking about it - did he not say that they had decided not to do it as at yesterday ?

You need to stop misleading posters

[LeadBelly]

Thread title should be changed to ‘RUMOURS that English football is to be played behind closed doors’ then.

Agreed, this site is getting as bad as the Daily Express, waiting for the........

"New Ice Age to SMASH uk tomorrow"; Tsunami from Atlantis to DESTROY Europe next week"; "Astroid will WIPE OUT LIFE on earth" etc.

[fidelcastro]

Agreed, this site is getting as bad as the Daily Express, waiting for the........

"New Ice Age to SMASH uk tomorrow"; Tsunami from Atlantis to DESTROY Europe next week"; "Astroid will WIPE OUT LIFE on earth" etc.

You forgot "There's a gypsy in my bathtub!"

[tim_noone]

Of course they are thinking about it.
I doubt he said they weren’t thinking about it - did he not say that they had decided not to do it as at yesterday ?

You need to stop misleading posters

[HieronymousBoschHobs]

Rumours there could even be a UEFA-wide suspension:

B16B3DF2-2788-401B-AE3C-F0FC588B9207.jpeg (567.33 KiB) Viewed 3850 times

516DBEC0-85CE-4DED-AC9F-E33A6DD1393E.jpeg (415.03 KiB) Viewed 3850 times

[Gordaleman]

Excuse me, I said that the government wasn't thinking of closing stadiums at THIS TIME. I did not say that they were not thinking about it.

I'am not misleading people, I am reporting what was said.

[damo_whitehead]

Brendan Rodgers confirmed 3 players having tests after showing signs of coronavirus

[Leisure]

They will shortly but it's just a rumour at present.

[TVC15]

Excuse me, I said that the government wasn't thinking of closing stadiums at THIS TIME. I did not say that they were not thinking about it.

I'am not misleading people, I am reporting what was said.

Haha
Of course they were thinking about it !

[Gordaleman]

Haha
Of course they were thinking about it !

Sorry, but I can't help it if you don't know the difference.

Anyway, with three Leicester players now in isolation, the measure may well be brought forward. In fact, football may be suspended altogether.

I feel so sorry for the lower league clubs who may well go out of business. Next season's leagues may look very different.

[AlargeClaret]

I repeat myself because the thread headline states that all games will be played behind closed doors THIS week-end. It appears that they won't. Speculation on something as serious as Covid 19 is not helpful.

Jesus wept! You’ve been filling the Corona thread with exactly that for days/weeks on end . Though of course the thread header is Twitter inspired supposition , I hadn’t realised you’d been sitting on a Cobra meeting all day. Make yourself a hot milky drink and watch Bargain Hunt or something, take deep breaths and relax