Nick De Marco "Legal action is inevitable"

[Guest LondonOwl313]

3 hours ago, HillsboroughOwlNI said:

Surely the sensible thing to do is cancel this season, allow promotion but no relegation. THE PL will be slightly larger next season but they can start a couple of weeks early. It’s the closest thing to “fair” I can think of.

 

and Liverpool don’t win a title 

If 3 teams go up and none go down as has been suggested that’s another 6 games for the premier league to play. They already moan about the 38 games

 

£762m might sound like a lot but it’s still only £38m a club.. it’s like saying you need to not make a couple of signings next season. It’s no big deal in the grand scheme of things

 

The season should be null and void for unforeseen circumstances.. it’s clear that it can’t be completed. What happens when a player gets the virus.. they’re open to litigation then. Plus 14 day isolation means all the fixtures get postponed. It’s unworkable 

[Animis]

The decision to re-commence football involves a lot of issues.

 

Firstly - is it safe?

Potentially - based on whether you test the players hours, not days before the game. It isn't possible at the moment to get the results back in hours.

Therefore, the players will need to wear type 2 fluid repellent masks. Is this feasible in a close contact sport? Can they keep the masks on at all times?

The backroom staff could all do the same with less risk.

 

Social distancing is only required in general public movements/workplaces. Organisations like NHS and social care don't operate the 2m distance rule for obvious reason, and therefore, wear PPE.

 

Is football an emergency service/sector? This is important to the government as they would need to approve the above, and this would open the floodgates to everyone saying 'I'm/we're a special case' - say TFL essentially saying cram the public on the tube, as long a they're wearing a mask.

 

The PL/EFL and Sky will clearly attempt to do everything to persuade the government to turn the other way, but the potential public backlash may force their hand to say no.

[Plonk]

Just a thought, but if they made this season null and void, but paid EFL clubs compo for not being promoted, on a sliding scale, ie Leeds, currently top get 50m, WBA 45m Fulham 40m etc, I wonder if the “ integrity of the competition”;argument would still hold as much weight?

[steelcityowlsfan]

If it goes against public health and Government advice. How can clubs possibly sue?

 

Leaves a sour taste in the mouth to think that some would want to push the boundaries just for financial gain. 
 

They should null and void the season and give clubs a chance to prepare for whenever the new season starts. 

[@owlstalk]

11 minutes ago, steelcityowlsfan said:

If it goes against public health and Government advice. How can clubs possibly sue?

 

Leaves a sour taste in the mouth to think that some would want to push the boundaries just for financial gain. 

 

Companies all over the world are trying it on right now

 

Try getting a refund off RyanAir for a cancelled flight you never got for example

 

Football is even worse than they are

[Nut]

2 hours ago, prowl said:

Apart from the fact we won't have a side to put out. Loans gone back and 8 or 9 players out of contract. We would barely have a first 11.

 

We wouldn't want to sign new players on 1/7 because we could be paying their wages for months without any guarantee of games of income.

 

Whichever way you look its a mess. Cancel the season. The courts would consider the matter but provided the league had been 'reasonable' they would probably just say there was no case to answer.

Course we'll have a side to put out. We'll sign players either permanently or on loan and for a change we'll be in the driving seat. No one knows what the position will be on 01/07 yet but regardless, football will restart at some point and clubs will need players and players will want to sign for them and play as long as it's safe to do so. Contracts may well look different to what they do now but this is a reality check for everyone and people will have to adapt accordingly. 

[DJMortimer]

4 hours ago, BIG D said:

Give Liverpool the title if you must but that's the only thing that was done (even that wasn't mathematically)

 

You can't do that though can you? Because if you award one title, then what about the others? Obviously they were 98% certain of winning the league (there's no way they would fail to get just 6 points from 9 games) but that's not the point. You can't really have the equivalent of the old pools panel for matters of that magnitude, especially when you are picking and choosing which issues they apply to.

 

3 hours ago, rickygoo said:

But it's all still hazy.  Germans, Spanish and Italians are all currently planning to return to playing so our mob aren't out of step with the other major European Leagues. 

 

What a coincidence. it's the richest leagues in the world that are still refusing to do the most logical thing.

[Guest HillsboroughOwlNI]

2 hours ago, LondonOwl313 said:

If 3 teams go up and none go down as has been suggested that’s another 6 games for the premier league to play. They already moan about the 38 games

 

£762m might sound like a lot but it’s still only £38m a club.. it’s like saying you need to not make a couple of signings next season. It’s no big deal in the grand scheme of things

 

The season should be null and void for unforeseen circumstances.. it’s clear that it can’t be completed. What happens when a player gets the virus.. they’re open to litigation then. Plus 14 day isolation means all the fixtures get postponed. It’s unworkable 

I meant only 2 teams to go up. Playoffs should be written off. Start season 2 weeks early and/or scrap the micky mouse cup or allow all PL teams to start a round later like the CL ones do and only 1 leg for the semis. They’ve had months off already ffs! 

 

What happens if a player becomes overweight because of excessive rest, or develops mental health issues from boredom? So many ifs and buts!

[Dick_Turpin]

34 minutes ago, DJMortimer said:

 

 

 

 

What a coincidence. it's the richest leagues in the world that are still refusing to do the most logical thing.

 

You could argue they have more money to lose so they're being mercenary...or it could be that because there's more to lose there's more likely to be legal action so they have to take baby steps. Or it could be a combination of both or, indeed, neither!

 

Whatever, it's a nightmare of a decision that has to be taken. It's easy to look on from the sidelines and say it's straightforward but I don't see that. The ruling bodies can't just make a ruling that the clubs won't support, there has to be some form of consensus, albeit not a unanimous one. 

 

Effectively the French Government forced the hand of Ligue 1 with a straightforward edict on when football could restart. If our Government does the same then that will set the ball rolling here - not literally obviously. 

 

 

 

[BIG D]

49 minutes ago, DJMortimer said:

 

You can't do that though can you? Because if you award one title, then what about the others? Obviously they were 98% certain of winning the league (there's no way they would fail to get just 6 points from 9 games) but that's not the point. You can't really have the equivalent of the old pools panel for matters of that magnitude, especially when you are picking and choosing which issues they apply to.

 

 

What a coincidence. it's the richest leagues in the world that are still refusing to do the most logical thing.

I agree mate but I don’t think I could do with the Scousers whinging for the next 2 years

[Howards back]

3 minutes ago, BIG D said:

I agree mate but I don’t think I could do with the Scousers whinging for the next 2 years

Only two years????

[horny owl]

6 minutes ago, BIG D said:

I agree mate but I don’t think I could do with the Scousers whinging for the next 2 years

Small price to pay for the scrubbers not winning the title

[scram]

Our govt are fully behind the PL resuming

 

The plan being put to the PL stakeholders today has govt approval

 

It's down to the clubs and players now

[Dick_Turpin]

18 minutes ago, scram said:

Our govt are fully behind the PL resuming

 

The plan being put to the PL stakeholders today has govt approval

 

It's down to the clubs and players now

The government have set up a medical working group to try and help elite sport get sport up and running again.

[DJMortimer]

42 minutes ago, rickygoo said:

 

Whatever, it's a nightmare of a decision that has to be taken. It's easy to look on from the sidelines and say it's straightforward but I don't see that. The ruling bodies can't just make a ruling that the clubs won't support, there has to be some form of consensus, albeit not a unanimous one. 

 

It certainly is a monumental set of problems. If they're lucky, they may come up with a solution that is only a Defcon 2 scale nightmare.

 

25 minutes ago, scram said:

Our govt are fully behind the PL resuming

 

The plan being put to the PL stakeholders today has govt approval

 

It's down to the clubs and players now

 

That really is bemusing. So far the Government has done a commendable job trying to make everything as simple as possible with no mixed messages (despite what the selfish and stupid might have tried to claim). But this is driving a coach and horses through the idea that there will be some sort of similarly clear strategy to relax some of the worst measures. If they are not careful a lot of the discipline they have worked towards amongst the public will be thrown away.

[scram]

8 minutes ago, rickygoo said:

The government have set up a medical working group to try and help elite sport get sport up and running again.

 

The govt haven't

 

They've left it to the PL to put forward proposals

 

These are being outlined today to stakeholders

 

We already know all academy football has now been cancelled for the season 

 

We'll see what else transpires

 

Neither the govt nor PL will be brave enough to be held to their position as each will devolve duty of care

 

The govt to the PL and the PL to the clubs 

 

It's pretty scandalous really

[Dick_Turpin]

19 minutes ago, scram said:

 

The govt haven't

 

They've left it to the PL to put forward proposals

 

These are being outlined today to stakeholders

 

We already know all academy football has now been cancelled for the season 

 

We'll see what else transpires

 

Neither the govt nor PL will be brave enough to be held to their position as each will devolve duty of care

 

The govt to the PL and the PL to the clubs 

 

It's pretty scandalous really

 

According to the PL statement today - “The league and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers. The league welcomed the creation of the government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning.” 

 

And from DCMS

The Government's medical working group also met on Friday and included medical representatives from a range of professional sports, as well as officials from DCMS and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer.

A DCMS spokersperson said: "We held an initial, constructive meeting with medical representatives from a number of professional and elite sports bodies, government and PHE to step up planning on what may need to be done so that athletes could return to training, when it is deemed safe to do so.

"This would be ahead of any return to competitive top-level sport which would only happen when medical experts advise that this can be done safely. Discussions with the sports bodies will continue on this."

[nevthelodgemoorowl]

1 hour ago, scram said:

Our govt are fully behind the PL resuming

 

The plan being put to the PL stakeholders today has govt approval

 

It's down to the clubs and players now

Sergio Aguero spoke vehemently against it last night based on risk factors regarding the increased likelihood of a catastrophe and I'm right with him, no player should be forced to partake. Furthermore, I think this is a fly catcher that the Government have thrown in !  

 

"Right, you've had your footy back to work on Monday" 

[the third man]

9 hours ago, @owlstalk said:

Wonder if it will extend to players if they don't feel safe to return to football.

Premier League clubs are already afraid they will be sued by their players if the return to football isn't a totally voluntary one.

By forcing their players back before they feel safe they put their clubs at risk of legal action from them.

 

Would imagine if a player catches it the club may be in breach of H & S legislation as well

 

the club have a duty of care to players to provide them with a Safe & Healthy working environment, not sure that can be done at the moment

[the third man]

8 hours ago, room0035 said:

We scrap the season then the club that would have got promoted are going to look for compensation of lost revenue and playing in the higher league.

 

 

There isn't any club that is promoted yet, so how may teams could get promoted, impossible to say but there must be loads over the three leagues

 

same goes for relegation, if clubs are relegated based on current positions, again as no one is relegated yet they would have a claim as well

 

if they can get all 72 clubs together with an agreement that it would be a majority decision on what to do with the season then you might avoid legal action, but even then you would get teams who think their vote is more important than another club

 

the other thing is there would only be one court case, because the result of that would be same for everyone, and I cant see how a team could claim to have lost money when nothing has been settled

 

don't know if there is something to cover force majeure in the football league rules, but if there isn't I bet there is in the future 

Edited May 1, 2020 by the third man