4 minutes ago, dkw said:

That`s an incredibly worrying quote, it sounds to me like certain clubs are trying to push their agenda and to hell with the others.

Agree, I noticed that as well. Each of the clubs in the Premier League should attend meetings and each of them should be entitled to a say. It would be lovely to know which clubs have been involved but I doubt if we'll get to know that.

1 hour ago, Boyne said:

Agree, I noticed that as well. Each of the clubs in the Premier League should attend meetings and each of them should be entitled to a say. It would be lovely to know which clubs have been involved but I doubt if we'll get to know that.

One thing you can always rely on is self-interest. Everyones view will essentially be determined by what keeps them up or means they qualify for Europe.

Bloke I was chatting to today made a good point about the CL. Will Italy and Spain actually be ready to play by time it starts next year? One thing for domestic leagues to start but borders could still be closed even in Europe. 

If social distancing measures are to be in place for several months (I've read up to 2022 !) then I can't see football resuming anytime soon. Behind closed doors has obviously been touted as one solution but that will still cause massive problems will fans still turn up etc, pubs will still have to be shut across the country to prevent mass gatherings. So behind closed doors happens still questions to be answered.

What about the players?. I have no idea how many people are in the changing rooms pre match let's say 25 they're all going to be pretty near each other especially at smaller grounds with less spacious facilities. Ok they can all shower afterwards but what about the backroom staff  presumably the only people allowed in will be the starting 11 and the manager. You might get managers doing a Phil Brown and giving pre and half time team talks on the pitch. They won't be able to sit in the dugouts so will all management staff be front row of the seats with a gap between each of them. A player gets injured and needs treatment and the medics are on the pitch will they have to have masks to protect them from the players who will be sweating.

Personally I don't think it's worth the risk if one person catches it that's one to many whether it's a player or someone who works in the ground.

1 hour ago, Spiller86 said:

One thing you can always rely on is self-interest. Everyones view will essentially be determined by what keeps them up or means they qualify for Europe.

Bloke I was chatting to today made a good point about the CL. Will Italy and Spain actually be ready to play by time it starts next year? One thing for domestic leagues to start but borders could still be closed even in Europe. 

 

1 hour ago, bluehaze said:

If social distancing measures are to be in place for several months (I've read up to 2022 !) then I can't see football resuming anytime soon. Behind closed doors has obviously been touted as one solution but that will still cause massive problems will fans still turn up etc, pubs will still have to be shut across the country to prevent mass gatherings. So behind closed doors happens still questions to be answered.

What about the players?. I have no idea how many people are in the changing rooms pre match let's say 25 they're all going to be pretty near each other especially at smaller grounds with less spacious facilities. Ok they can all shower afterwards but what about the backroom staff  presumably the only people allowed in will be the starting 11 and the manager. You might get managers doing a Phil Brown and giving pre and half time team talks on the pitch. They won't be able to sit in the dugouts so will all management staff be front row of the seats with a gap between each of them. A player gets injured and needs treatment and the medics are on the pitch will they have to have masks to protect them from the players who will be sweating.

Personally I don't think it's worth the risk if one person catches it that's one to many whether it's a player or someone who works in the ground.

@Spiller86 a good point you make about domestic leagues. Countries within Europe will probably come out of the lockdown, restrictions etc at different times and thus Governments may be reluctant to allow citizens to cross borders for a good while yet and therefore a team from one country will not be able to play in another. There may also be a reluctance from individuals to travel. Cost will be a factor and will individuals may be scared to pick up the virus in another country (it may not be there but the fear of the possibility of catching it will be there. If teams do or can not travel effectively there can be no Champions or Europa Leagues. UEFA and its sponsors, shareholders won't like that but Governments and individuals will, I hope, have more of a safe. Also leagues will most likely finish at different times so the CL and EL will effectively not exist as a viable contest for sometime. Even playing behind closed doors for the reasons of non-travel will not be an option. Would UEFA and sponsors dare to fine clubs and countries' footballing authorities if the CL and EL do not go ahead. A risky move as it could alienate clubs and fans.

@bluehazea good point about pubs being closed. Some pubs rely heavily on fans turning up to watch games and spend money on drink and food to help pay for the charges they pay to broadcast games. I'm not sure how much the broadcasters charge to show games in a pub. Is it a £1000 a month. Can someone clarify. Thanks. Indeed some of the pubs who have shown games may go under due the lockdown. It may be that games are only broadcasts to households. Would there be an increase in charges to households to compensate the loss of fees from pubs, clubs etc. As for numbers attending games behind closed doors, perhaps only players, one or two coaching staff, medical staff and few staff from the club to open up and maintain power etc. As for broadcasters, will there be a need. Perhaps setup cameras around the ground and they can be controlled remotely. Shouldn't be too difficult to setup and broadcasters can commentate from afar.

One more comment about charges for broadcasting of games. It used to be the case in the past that U.K. Government Departments in the Whitehall and Westminster areas would receive some of the Sky Sports channels for free as part of the Parliamentary TV service. Things may have changed in the last five years but some of you may wish to contact your MP to check. I know this used to be the case as one of my jobs in the Government Department where I used to work was to work with the team that installed the Parliamentary TV system in the Whitehall and Westminster areas. If I had to work at weekends I would occasionally sneak off for a while to watch bits of a game.

In the US they are considering if it's possible to resume some sports with all players that would go to hotels and got tested and the games were played behind closed doors.

4 hours ago, Spiller86 said:

One thing you can always rely on is self-interest. Everyones view will essentially be determined by what keeps them up or means they qualify for Europe.

Bloke I was chatting to today made a good point about the CL. Will Italy and Spain actually be ready to play by time it starts next year? One thing for domestic leagues to start but borders could still be closed even in Europe. 

The CL is actually the easiest competition to work around.

If it's not possible next year they could easily double down on it the season after next (which I think they would have to do to appease sponsors if they have to take a year off). Ala 64 teams (16 groups) with everyone who's qualified for it the last two season's in (plus the highest ranked teams who didn't make it to make the numbers up).

Literally the only change they would have to make would be not space out the RO16 in four match weeks and instead do the R032 and 16 in those weeks instead, they won't even need any extra match day slots and for further context it's still less games for the eventual winners than what it was during the two group stage era.

Edited April 16, 20206 yr by Argo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52316964

Uefa is working to plans that would see the Champions League final end the 2019-20 season on 29 August.

European football's governing body will meet on 23 April for more discussions about how to complete a campaign which has been disrupted by coronavirus.

It is likely one decision will be to agree that leagues could finish early, although only with Uefa's approval.

But the idea is still to finish the season as a whole at the end of August, with all outstanding games played.

That would mean the Champions League final taking place in Istanbul on 29 August, with the Europa League final in Gdansk three days earlier.

Two scenarios for getting to that situation are under consideration.

The first is to play the quarter-finals and semi-finals as two-legged matches as normal, in July and August.

The second would be for the games to be played as one-off fixtures after the end of the domestic seasons, potentially condensing the end of the competition into a week-long mini tournament.

Four of the eight Champions League quarter-finalists are already known, with Manchester City's high-profile encounter with Real Madrid one of the ties still to be concluded.

In the Europa League, scheduling is more complicated because all eight last-16 second-leg ties are still to be played, with two matches, involving Spanish and Italian teams, yet to play the first legs.

Is it just me, but every few days we get an announcement from premier League or UEFA regarding finishing season by this date or that date, not only is it in poor taste while countries are losing hundreds of people by the day, people are in lockdown, and also finding and will find huge financial issues, can they not get it in their thick skulls that football is not important and no one gives a sh*t about finishing this season, let's draw a line under it and maybe we we can start new season sometime in the autumn if we are lucky, talk of playing behind closed doors, football authorities seem to think this is the answer? Okay I can really see government agreeing this without all players and staff being tested, especially when more important members of the community are yet to be tested, cloud cuckoo land springs to mind!

52 minutes ago, chi blue said:

Is it just me, but every few days we get an announcement from premier League or UEFA regarding finishing season by this date or that date, not only is it in poor taste while countries are losing hundreds of people by the day, people are in lockdown, and also finding and will find huge financial issues, can they not get it in their thick skulls that football is not important and no one gives a sh*t about finishing this season, let's draw a line under it and maybe we we can start new season sometime in the autumn if we are lucky, talk of playing behind closed doors, football authorities seem to think this is the answer? Okay I can really see government agreeing this without all players and staff being tested, especially when more important members of the community are yet to be tested, cloud cuckoo land springs to mind!

I agree with you, draw a line under the season and as you say, possibly start the new season in autumn. It's daft that the football authorities keep coming up with proposed dates for ending the season when Governments and those in the public have far more things to worry about. As we've mentioned before, we don't miss the football as much as we thought we would.  

From what I understand the date of 30 June as an end date has been chosen as that is when contracts e.g. for players, shirt sponsors and shirt manufacturers expires. There will be a cost implication for that but I suspect that there are a lot of businesses who have drawn up contracts and can't fulfill them and are probably working at ways to complete deals with no or minimal financial implications. Football also has to deal with the contracts with TV broadcasters and it looks like they want to be substantially reimbursed. That could mean clubs going out of business to pay the broadcasters and therefore they will be a smaller product to televise. Would fans, sponsors footballing authorities want that? But no doubt the TV companies will say that they have an obligation to shareholders, subscribers etc.

Sadly, some football clubs will probably go out of business which will be terrible for fans of those clubs and the playing and non-playing staff of those teams.  We've all known people and places in our lives and we've moved on or changed. There's probably loads of pubs I've stopped going to over the years. Some I miss but others I don't. But as the saying goes, you can't change your football team. Then football teams are just like any other business. Sadly at this time, a lot will go out of business with all sorts of implication. Football and other sports cannot think of themselves as exempt.

Perhaps after we are back to some sort of normality that football needs to re-appraise itself. Reduced players salaries and transfer dealings? Less money from TV and shirt deals?

 

21 minutes ago, Boyne said:

I agree with you, draw a line under the season and as you say, possibly start the new season in autumn. It's daft that the football authorities keep coming up with proposed dates for ending the season when Governments and those in the public have far more things to worry about. As we've mentioned before, we don't miss the football as much as we thought we would.  

From what I understand the date of 30 June as an end date has been chosen as that is when contracts e.g. for players, shirt sponsors and shirt manufacturers expires. There will be a cost implication for that but I suspect that there are a lot of businesses who have drawn up contracts and can't fulfill them and are probably working at ways to complete deals with no or minimal financial implications. Football also has to deal with the contracts with TV broadcasters and it looks like they want to be substantially reimbursed. That could mean clubs going out of business to pay the broadcasters and therefore they will be a smaller product to televise. Would fans, sponsors footballing authorities want that? But no doubt the TV companies will say that they have an obligation to shareholders, subscribers etc.

Sadly, some football clubs will probably go out of business which will be terrible for fans of those clubs and the playing and non-playing staff of those teams.  We've all known people and places in our lives and we've moved on or changed. There's probably loads of pubs I've stopped going to over the years. Some I miss but others I don't. But as the saying goes, you can't change your football team. Then football teams are just like any other business. Sadly at this time, a lot will go out of business with all sorts of implication. Football and other sports cannot think of themselves as exempt.

Perhaps after we are back to some sort of normality that football needs to re-appraise itself. Reduced players salaries and transfer dealings? Less money from TV and shirt deals?

 

Your bottom paragraph really sums it all up Boyne, football has been awash with money for 25 years, but clubs have still lived above their means for years, Chelsea included, if the season ends now clubs will lose income from roughly 5 home games, how the hell that can tip them over the edge I will never know, when 10's of millions are paid to them each season through TV money, the lower league clubs have more of an excuse but they still get TV money of some description, when I was a youngster back in the 70's and 80's clubs never went out of business and there was a lot less money around, they came close us and Boro to name two, but we are still here. Certainly an interesting few weeks and months ahead, if anyone told me at Christmas when I came singing out of sh*te Hart Lane, and the Emirates, what was in store I would never of believed them.

Edited April 17, 20206 yr by chi blue

1 hour ago, chi blue said:

Your bottom paragraph really sums it all up Boyne, football has been awash with money for 25 years, but clubs have still lived above their means for years, Chelsea included, if the season ends now clubs will lose income from roughly 5 home games, how the hell that can tip them over the edge I will never know, when 10's of millions are paid to them each season through TV money, the lower league clubs have more of an excuse but they still get TV money of some description, when I was a youngster back in the 70's and 80's clubs never went out of business and there was a lot less money around, they came close us and Boro to name two, but we are still here. Certainly an interesting few weeks and months ahead, if anyone told me at Christmas when I came singing out of sh*te Hart Lane, and the Emirates, what was in store I would never of believed them.

As you say, there has been a lot of money in football for the last 25 years and it does make you think what clubs have done with it. I read a while back that the bulk of clubs' expenditure is spent on wages. I'm not sure what the percentage is and the split between playing and non-playing staff.

As you say, there are roughly five home games to play. Will clubs refund season tickets if games? Chelsea has four home games. I'm a ST holder in the MHU. Will I receive money back on my ST for those missed games? The club will also miss out on money spent in the bars and club shop. If clubs had been more careful, there should be no excuse to go under.

As for businesses near grounds, I wonder how many will survive not having fans spending money on match day. Pubs must make a fortune on match day and some probably rely on that money to see them through the close season. 

Interesting times ahead. 

9 minutes ago, Boyne said:

As you say, there has been a lot of money in football for the last 25 years and it does make you think what clubs have done with it. I read a while back that the bulk of clubs' expenditure is spent on wages. I'm not sure what the percentage is and the split between playing and non-playing staff.

I thought it was obvious that the whole TV windfall has ended up in the pockets of a few lucky players and their agents, all of whom have all been grossly overpaid for what they actually deliver ...

The best thing that could happen out of all this is for FIFA to introduce a squad salary cap, for everyone to give up their Sky contracts unless the price is reduced by two thirds, and for the clubs to slash ticket prices by 75%.

Highly doubt any of that will happen though ... football could well be irreparably broken ...

28 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I thought it was obvious that the whole TV windfall has ended up in the pockets of a few lucky players and their agents, all of whom have all been grossly overpaid for what they actually deliver ...

The best thing that could happen out of all this is for FIFA to introduce a squad salary cap, for everyone to give up their Sky contracts unless the price is reduced by two thirds, and for the clubs to slash ticket prices by 75%.

Highly doubt any of that will happen though ... football could well be irreparably broken ...

It's ridiculous the amount of money that agents make. As for some players, the amounts they earn are crazy. Two of the arguments they use is that they are in the entertainment business and they should be deemed the equivalent of musicians and actors and football careers can be short. The second argument is fairly reasonable but then are probably lots of careers which are short. What about those in the military who have been badly injured.

Salary caps, reduced ticket prices and lower TV subscriptions would be nice but as you say highly doubtful if they will happen. Both codes of rugby have introduced salary caps and some clubs have fallen foul of those by trying to get around them. Look at Saracens Rugby Union team. They have been relegated.

I remember reading a story about Tom Finney. When he was offered a contract with Preston his father advised him to finish his apprenticeship as a plumber just in case his career as a footballer didn't work out. He completed his apprenticeship and he set up his own plumbing business. He also served in the British Army in WW2. Can you imagine what would happen if National Service was reintroduced in the U.K. It may be the case that footballers have a career outside football to fall back on. Look at Frank Lampard, he's written a few children's books. Perhaps it should be compulsory for players to have something to fall back on. A bit like players in the lower leagues.

Here's a question: Perhaps we as fans haven't helped by putting footballers on a pedestal.

2 hours ago, Boyne said:

As you say, there has been a lot of money in football for the last 25 years and it does make you think what clubs have done with it. I read a while back that the bulk of clubs' expenditure is spent on wages. I'm not sure what the percentage is and the split between playing and non-playing staff.

As you say, there are roughly five home games to play. Will clubs refund season tickets if games? Chelsea has four home games. I'm a ST holder in the MHU. Will I receive money back on my ST for those missed games? The club will also miss out on money spent in the bars and club shop. If clubs had been more careful, there should be no excuse to go under.

As for businesses near grounds, I wonder how many will survive not having fans spending money on match day. Pubs must make a fortune on match day and some probably rely on that money to see them through the close season. 

Interesting times ahead. 

Yes thinking same, I'm MHL season ticket holder, I bloody hope club will refund us the money, we aren't a charity for the club, that £200 refund could come in useful for us all.

2 hours ago, chi blue said:

Yes thinking same, I'm MHL season ticket holder, I bloody hope club will refund us the money, we aren't a charity for the club, that £200 refund could come in useful for us all.

I think that there are 20,000 ST holders at Chelsea so if each of them is refunded £200 that is a total of £4,000,000 which will need to refunded. However, that's not an accurate figure as some i.e. those under 20 and those over £65 pay less and there are some fans e.g. those in the West middle who pay more. Still £4,000,000 is a reasonable estimate.

If each club in the PL has an average of 20,000 ST holders and each ST holder is reimbursed £200 that is a grand total of £80,000,000. Of course to be added to that are refunds to fans of clubs in the lower divisions. In addition members of clubs who have bought tickets will need to reimbursed. Let's say for arguments sake that all clubs have to refund £130 million.

As you say a refund of £200 will be very useful in these times. In all of the discussions about when and if the season closes I can't recall seeing or hearing anything about refunding ticket holders. All of the talk has been about how much money will need to be refunded to broadcasters. I'm not sure how much will be refunded to those who subscribe to Sky, BT etc. If (and it's a big if) football starts in the next few weeks or months games will, if Governments allow, have to be played behind closed doors and thus fans who have paid for tickets in advance will miss out.

The choice for clubs may come down to who they reimburse: ticket holders, broadcasters and those who subscribe to TV contracts. I assume that subscribers will be reimbursed by broadcasters and not clubs. Some clubs may not be able to do both.

Challenging times ahead for football clubs. In the end it could come down to who has the biggest say. Which ever way football comes out of this, I can't see it ever being the same.

Edit: One of the guys I go the games with told me a few weeks ago that he'd heard a rumour that ST prices are to go up next season. This was before football was suspended.

Edited April 17, 20206 yr by Boyne

I'm intrigued to know what is meant by stakeholders. I'd like to think that would include supporters groups but doubt that very much. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52326617

Premier League clubs remain committed to finishing the 92 remaining fixtures of the current season but did not discuss a deadline by which play must resume at a meeting on Friday.

Clubs were expected to debate a 30 June deadline to resume play but instead discussed "possible scheduling models".

The Premier League said it "remains our objective" to complete matches but currently "all dates are tentative".

The league has been suspended since 13 March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is understood some clubs expected to discuss the proposed 30 June deadline at Friday's meeting but it was decided now was not the right time to do so.

"In common with other businesses and industries, the Premier League and our clubs are working through complex planning scenarios," the Premier League said.

"We are actively engaging with stakeholders, including broadcast partners, and our aim is to ensure we are in a position to resume playing when it is safe to do so and with the full support of the government. The health and wellbeing of players, coaches, managers, club staff and supporters are our priority and the League will only restart when medical guidance allows.

"Today's shareholders' meeting provided an opportunity to discuss possible scheduling models. It remains our objective to complete the 2019-20 season but at this stage all dates are tentative while the impact of Covid-19 develops."

Earlier this month the Premier League said play will only resume when "it is safe and appropriate to do so" and the number of coronavirus deaths in the UK has since risen to more than 12,000.

On Thursday, the government issued a further three-week lockdown to ensure social distancing and manage the spread of the virus.

When and how football resumes has been widely debated across the sport as clubs face up to financial difficulties and the logistical issues caused by a late finish to the season.

The contracts of numerous players expire on 30 June, including those of Chelsea midfielder Willian and Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen.

If the season is extended beyond that date there is a possibility clubs will lose players before fixtures are concluded.

World governing body Fifa is aware of the problem and is looking at alternatives such as rolling contract extensions.

The 30 June date is also an issue for clubs around agreed changes in kit manufacturers. Liverpool are due to change shirt manufacturers from New Balance to Nike, while Watford and Newcastle are also set to use new suppliers.

In a BBC Sport vote on how the season should be dealt with 39% of respondents wanted to 'declare the season null and void', with 28% opting to 'finish the season no matter how long it takes'.

Uefa has pleaded for leagues to give them time to return with their own proposals for ending the season across Europe.

European football's governing body will meet next week to further discuss plans which include potentially using the Champions League final to end the 2019-20 season on 29 August.

Lower down the football pyramid in England, the EFL has sent a letter to clubs recommending they return to training on 16 May at the earliest.

The EFL has not discussed a league restart date with the government but told clubs: "Our planning needs to be agile enough to allow us to be as prepared as possible for a start at relatively short notice."

What about other European leagues?

The body that represents Europe's top leagues says when football does return it will "no doubt" be played behind closed doors.

At present, the state of play in the continent's top leagues is:

Germany's Bundesliga: Clubs have returned to training but the season is still suspended until 30 April.

Spain's La Liga: There will be no training until emergency measures in place are lifted and La Liga president Javier Tebas says resuming play on 28 May is a best-case scenario.

France's Ligue 1: French football authorities are considering restarting Ligue 1 on 3 or 17 June, with the latter date the more likely, according to sports daily L'Equipe.

Italy's Serie A: The Italian Football Federation (IFF) hopes to begin testing players for the virus at the start of May, in preparation for the season to resume.

5 hours ago, Boyne said:

It's ridiculous the amount of money that agents make. As for some players, the amounts they earn are crazy. Two of the arguments they use is that they are in the entertainment business and they should be deemed the equivalent of musicians and actors and football careers can be short. The second argument is fairly reasonable but then are probably lots of careers which are short. What about those in the military who have been badly injured.

Salary caps, reduced ticket prices and lower TV subscriptions would be nice but as you say highly doubtful if they will happen. Both codes of rugby have introduced salary caps and some clubs have fallen foul of those by trying to get around them. Look at Saracens Rugby Union team. They have been relegated.

I remember reading a story about Tom Finney. When he was offered a contract with Preston his father advised him to finish his apprenticeship as a plumber just in case his career as a footballer didn't work out. He completed his apprenticeship and he set up his own plumbing business. He also served in the British Army in WW2. Can you imagine what would happen if National Service was reintroduced in the U.K. It may be the case that footballers have a career outside football to fall back on. Look at Frank Lampard, he's written a few children's books. Perhaps it should be compulsory for players to have something to fall back on. A bit like players in the lower leagues.

Here's a question: Perhaps we as fans haven't helped by putting footballers on a pedestal.

Several good points here ...

For the first argument they use, I would say that comparing their salaries to others who are similarly overpaid by a country mile for what they actually do is not going to work now that we have all seen the new reality of how useless all these people are when push comes to shove. Some of the efforts of the "celebrities" to stay in the public eye in this crisis have been absolutely pathetic in the context of the long hours being worked and the sacrifices being made by the key workers.

The second argument holds no water at all with me.  A footballer "retiring" from sport at, say, 35 years old .. why should they not be expected to do something else productive for another 25-30 years until they actually reach retirement age for the rest of us ? Why should their first 15 years of work be expected to provide sufficient funds for life ? Tell that to a nurse ...

And your last point is very well made ... too many sports people, actors, actresses, models, "influencers", YouTube bloggers etc etc are held up for hero worship as role models when they are nothing of the sort, and never more demonstrably so than right now ... so much of the world is arse about face when it comes to what is really important in life ... and don't get me started on all those CEO corporate leeches that similarly think they are so special ... there is nothing anyone in the world could possibly do in the 24 hours they have available each day that could possibly justify the current earnings disparity vs their workers.

Roll on the salary cap ... £25M a year for a 25 player squad really ought to be plenty at the top level ... it's massively less than they get right now and it still averages at £1M a year ffs ... and if they want an agent to represent them then fine, but the player funds it not the clubs ...

Rant over ?

Love the Tom Finney anecdote btw

Edited April 17, 20206 yr by Sexyfootball

5 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

The second argument holds no water at all with me.  A footballer "retiring" from sport at, say, 35 years old .. why should they not be expected to do something else productive for another 25-30 years until they actually reach retirement age fore the rest of us ? Why should their first 15 years of work be expected to provide sufficient funds for life ? Tell that to a nurse ...

Looking back at what I wrote I think I worded it badly. I agree that there is no reason why they shouldn't do something after they retire. At the age of 35 they have plenty of time to learn a new skill. I gave up work at the age of 55 after 37 years and there are people who are still working well into their sixties and seventies. Fortunately I left with a good pension. I did think about getting a part job but am glad I didn't as had to spend a lot of time looking after my Mum who was poorly.

Yes, roll on the salary cap. Most people work in jobs which have a salary cap. If a salary cap was introduced cue the temper tantrums from agents and players.

2 hours ago, Boyne said:

I think that there are 20,000 ST holders at Chelsea so if each of them is refunded £200 that is a total of £4,000,000 which will need to refunded. However, that's not an accurate figure as some i.e. those under 20 and those over £65 pay less and there are some fans e.g. those in the West middle who pay more. Still £4,000,000 is a reasonable estimate.

If each club in the PL has an average of 20,000 ST holders and each ST holder is reimbursed £200 that is a grand total of £80,000,000. Of course to be added to that are refunds to fans of clubs in the lower divisions. In addition members of clubs who have bought tickets will need to reimbursed. Let's say for arguments sake that all clubs have to refund £130 million.

As you say a refund of £200 will be very useful in these times. In all of the discussions about when and if the season closes I can't recall seeing or hearing anything about refunding ticket holders. All of the talk has been about how much money will need to be refunded to broadcasters. I'm not sure how much will be refunded to those who subscribe to Sky, BT etc. If (and it's a big if) football starts in the next few weeks or months games will, if Governments allow, have to be played behind closed doors and thus fans who have paid for tickets in advance will miss out.

The choice for clubs may come down to who they reimburse: ticket holders, broadcasters and those who subscribe to TV contracts. I assume that subscribers will be reimbursed by broadcasters and not clubs. Some clubs may not be able to do both.

Challenging times ahead for football clubs. In the end it could come down to who has the biggest say. Which ever way football comes out of this, I can't see it ever being the same.

Edit: One of the guys I go the games with told me a few weeks ago that he'd heard a rumour that ST prices are to go up next season. This was before football was suspended.

Yes I heard rumour season tickets going up, I believe we have about 27k season ticket holders, I expect season to start behind closed doors, so how this will be all worked out who knows with next season's season tickets, let alone the remainder of this.

 

 

So let's say the league restarts as they want, what happens if a player who has been involved in a game gets the virus, does that mean his entire club go into isolation and then have to play the under 18s?

Edited April 17, 20206 yr by dkw

Just now, dkw said:

So let's say the league restarts as they want, what happens if a player whi is beefn involved in a game gets the virus, does that mean his entire club go into isolation and then have to play the under 18s?

Yes was thinking same, it's utter carnage, just won't work re starting season. I presume both clubs involved in game would have to go into isolation

3 minutes ago, chi blue said:

Yes was thinking same, it's utter carnage, just won't work re starting season. I presume both clubs involved in game would have to go into isolation

Plus the officials, the coaching staff, first aiders etc. 

32 minutes ago, dkw said:

Plus the officials, the coaching staff, first aiders etc. 

The mascots! Poor old Stamford & Bridgette!

1 hour ago, chi blue said:

Yes I heard rumour season tickets going up, I believe we have about 27k season ticket holders, I expect season to start behind closed doors, so how this will be all worked out who knows with next season's season tickets, let alone the remainder of this.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, dkw said:

So let's say the league restarts as they want, what happens if a player who has been involved in a game gets the virus, does that mean his entire club go into isolation and then have to play the under 18s?

 

1 hour ago, chi blue said:

Yes was thinking same, it's utter carnage, just won't work re starting season. I presume both clubs involved in game would have to go into isolation

 

1 hour ago, dkw said:

Plus the officials, the coaching staff, first aiders etc. 

 

Yes, if a player or players and/or someone from the coaching staff contracts the virus I guess all would have to go into isolation and thus disrupt the season even more. If football is closed behind closed doors I suspect other sports e.g. both codes of rugby and cricket will ask to play behind closed doors and thus put even more unnecessary strain on medical and other staff. Other sports will argue that if an exemption can be made for football why not them. Government advice is to only work and travel if necessary. Sportsmen and women are not key workers. Footballing authorities, broadcasters and some fans may want the season to finish but why should medical and other support staff risk their health for something that is unimportant.

If this season is scrapped or played behind closed doors will ST holders receive a refund for this season or will the amount owed be deducted from next season's price. The clubs should give fans plenty of notice so they can budget especially at this time when money is tight.

 

4 minutes ago, Boyne said:

 

 

 

 

Yes, if a player or players and/or someone from the coaching staff contracts the virus I guess all would have to go into isolation and thus disrupt the season even more. If football is closed behind closed doors I suspect other sports e.g. both codes of rugby and cricket will ask to play behind closed doors and thus put even more unnecessary strain on medical and other staff. Other sports will argue that if an exemption can be made for football why not them. Government advice is to only work and travel if necessary. Sportsmen and women are not key workers. Footballing authorities, broadcasters and some fans may want the season to finish but why should medical and other support staff risk their health for something that is unimportant.

If this season is scrapped or played behind closed doors will ST holders receive a refund for this season or will the amount owed be deducted from next season's price. The clubs should give fans plenty of notice so they can budget especially at this time when money is tight.

 

I'm not sure what the score is for is for us big clubs but I've heard on the grapevine that lower league clubs may use virtual match day experience for fans until they're allowed back in for real.