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Martin Devlin: What to do about the English Premier League

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 9 Apr 2020, 12:17PM

Martin Devlin: What to do about the English Premier League

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 9 Apr 2020, 12:17PM

What to do about the Premier League.

With both the MLB and NRL flirting with possible new May start dates what then are the prospects for English football getting to finish their season before the next one begins? 

I believe they have three options.

1) Void the current campaign and leaving everything as is with no title awarded and an asterisk permanently attached to the final table.

2) End the campaign right now with most teams having played 29 games, all positions confirmed as they already sit, title goes to Liverpool, top four are your Champions League places, bottom three relegated as per usual.

3) Wait until it is safe and officially approved to recommence then play the remaining games out as per normal, if necessary delaying the start of the new season until this one is complete.

Obviously the most favoured option is the third one. It's also unfortunately the one that requires the most patience, longest period of potential inactivity and full government approval before any resumption could begin.

The first two carry obvious flaws.

Cancelling the current season would seem grossly unfair on especially the team that sits top but also those battling for European places with so many points still available and crucial top four positions clearly undecided.

Equally so option two which would only create a legal minefield almost impossible  to resolve. With six teams battling relegation, one win separating places 15-19 and 27 points still available good luck trying to tell any of the clubs in the bottom three that (based on the current table) they must go down. Same for the sides seeking promotion from the Championship.

Six teams are scrapping over the last playoff place alone with another five fighting for one of the two automatic spots.

And when you add in the hundreds of millions of pounds dished out to those who are successful there's every reason all those clubs involved would instigate complex and determined  legal action to prevent any artificial resolution to their seasons.

Me, I favour waiting and finishing the season proper when and if it is able to happen.

No-one wants to see another comp ultimately decided by a rulebook. Surely after last year's cricket we're all more than aware nothing SUPER ever happens OVER that.

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