Premier League Promotion: Why is it difficult to decide the fate of the league for English FA amidst the Coronavirus outbreak in the world.
The world is at a standstill due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus and football has also been a major victim of it. All the leagues around Europe are suspended either till further notice or first week of April.
Most probably, the suspension will be further extended as the virus is still spreading and the number of casualties is also increasing. Meanwhile, the football calendar has also been halted in one of the most hectic months of the year.
The English FA has also postponed all of its matches across all professional leagues till April. But the solution is temporary in front of the larger problem.
The outbreak will possibly still exist in the following weeks and the English FA along with the league officials and clubs will have to decide the fate of the season in the coming days.
As of now, three options stands, either the leagues can be postponed until the outbreaks slow down, end the league here and determine the final result with current standings or declare the season void.
However, all three options have their consequences and that is why to decide one option is difficult as a lot is at stake in terms of financial terms and hard work. Thus the Sportsrush will explain all the limitations in the above scenarios.
1. Postponement until the outbreak dies
This sounds to be the fairest alternate among three but it has its demerits, the first one is that the football calendar is too stocked that for the next season at least the whole schedule would be shuffled.
Although it is not a major problem since the world is facing a pandemic, so it is a little price to pay. Moreover, shifting Euro 2020 to 2021 wouldn’t be a big problem too.
However, it will surely affect the contracts signed by the players. Usually, the contracts of the player expire on the June 30th of the year of expiration in the contract.
If the player is either or the last or second last year of his contract with the club then it will bring in financial, commitment and tactical confusions.
Moreover, certain players could also go unemployed in the middle of the season. Adding further, this will also massively affect the summer transfer window.
Usually, the teams give importance to summer transfer windows as it allows new signings to gel into the team during the pre-season and give a buffer time to the manager to make tactical adaptions around the player.
But if the postponement further extends then the clubs would be forced to make a signing in the last phase of the season, this could strip other clubs from their prominent players or could compel players to take an untimely transfer.
So, even though it seems unavoidable or fair, the association will have to add clarity and form guidelines. if they opt for this decision.
2. Decide the league on current standings
In the Premier League, the top-4 teams might not see it as a problem, as Liverpool is miles ahead in the league race and needs only 2 wins out of the remaining 9 games.
However, this will be highly unfair to the teams in the relegation zone, whereas the teams just above the relegation will see it as a miracle. As of now, only 8 points separate teams between 15th and 20th position with 9 games remaining (10 for Aston Villa)
Therefore, a huge uproar will be there by the teams facing relegation, as it will be highly unfair to relegate a team with 9 games remaining, as a relegation will be a huge financial hit to the team for the following year.
In this who can forget the teams who are fighting for a top-4 finish, including the big guns Manchester United, as their hopes for top-4 finish have escalated since January.
On the other hand, the same goes for the teams who are contenders to get a promotion. There have been arguments that West Brom and Leeds should be promoted as they are first two in the Championship.
Moreover, it is been said that avoid relegation and just add these two teams for the next season and relegate 5 teams instead of 3 in the following season.
But it will surely upset the following six teams in the standings, and scrapping a play-off match will also be a huge setback. Moreover, not to forget the strain it will bring in the league schedule.
Therefore, a lot of parties will not be happy with this decision except for the genuine beneficiaries and the association can face a huge backlash with this decision.
3. Call the season void
This sounds to be the most unacceptable decision for the clubs, as the teams at the top of the ladder will be against it. Liverpool, who is at the top of the table with 25 points will surely reject it.
Meanwhile, there are reports that even Manchester United may not support it even if it will award their fiercest rivals- Liverpool, the Premier League trophy.
Moreover, one would not be able to select the teams to qualify for Europe. Overall, to start the next season, there has to be an end to this season, which this option doesn’t provide.
Similarly, the teams who are certain to get a qualification in the superior tiers will also object to the decision. But the teams who are facing the threat of relegation would be satisfied with this decision.
But amidst all of this, this has also made us realize that how stocked up the football calendar is and how small postponements can affect the whole system built.
Nevertheless, the safety of players, staff and fans should be the highest priority for the association, rest can be assured with time and effort.
