The Premier League meeting that was held today about restarting the competition ended with teams maintaining their desire to end the season.
The competition has been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, however, it is set to be resumed in a few weeks and the meeting was to agree on the way forward and accept plans for the restart.
The teams agreed to finish the season, but there were also talks of the remaining games being played at neutral venues.
Reports claim that the Premier League is considering such proposal because they might be forced to take the games to areas in the country that will have fewer people for fear of fans sneaking into the grounds.
Three Stadiums were suggested as neutral with Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium being named alongside West Ham’s London Stadium and Manchester City’s Etihad claims the Mail.
The Gunners were the first team to allow their players to start training outside their homes at the club’s training ground this week as they look to get in shape before the campaign is restarted.
The Premier League would prefer for teams to play their remaining matches behind closed doors in their stadiums, but the Government will advise on the appropriate measures that has to be put in place for the campaign to resume successfully.
If I may come out of the naughty corner, I think the best and fairest solution would be the one which decides finishing positions by points per game (PPG). This would also mean we finish 8th (above the shower) and a possible EL place if the ban on City remains. That would also eventually give us more money for transfers.
The French decision to abandon their season
has set the precedent.
The German chancellor delaying the start of the Bundesliga is a huge indication that the German league won’t start.
With the UK, Spain and Italy being way behind Germany in their covid19 containment these countries will end their seasons as well.
declaring leagues finished is the only way forward.
Liverpool will be the title winner all other places should stand. No relegation. European places won’t matter as there won’t be any European football next season. Leeds and WBA promoted with 4 teams relegated next season.
The Mail seems to be confused as to which stadiums might be used as neutral venues as the paper version names The Amex, St Mary’s, the London Stadium and the Etihad stadiums as the four most likely to be used due to their remote settings away from residential areas, yet the on line story mentions different venues as per this article. My personal opinion is that our government will follow suit with other European countries and order games cannot go ahead and it is then up to the Premier League to decide how the season is voided and the method by which winners and losers are decided.