Shortened Season Scenarios

It is a distinct possibility that there will be no more games played in the 2019-20 season. Unfortunately, the two things I've seen about how to handle promotion are either horrible or sucky for Fulham.

The CEO of Brighton and Hove has suggested having no Premier League teams relegated and bringing up Leeds and West Brom, then relegating four teams from the Premier League next season. Fulham is SOL in that scenario.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51889682

Although I don't like that plan, I have to agree with the CEO of Brighton that it would be an absolute shame not to crown Liverpool the Premier League champions if the rest of the season is cancelled. They absolutely deserve it.

Another possibility is what Chile did last year when their season was suspended. They also did not relegate anyone, but let the top second tier team through and then had the next four teams in a three game playoff to determine who would join them. In that scenario Fulham would have to face off against West Brom, Brentford, and Nottingham Forrest for the final spot.
https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-fans-hope-efl-coronavirus-17922719

This is an interesting Q&A mainly because the Questions illuminate how many issues football is facing. The Answers are all "nobody knows".
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51876162

 

I’ve wondered what the legal implications could be for relegating a club if there are no Premier League or EFL rules already in place to govern a shortened season.

 

Thank you for posting these @MicahMan . I guess it's anybody's guess as to how this is going to play out.

Wayne Rooney also offered his thoughts by saying finish this season in the summer and push back the next two seasons to a winter start so that they fit better around the 2022 World Cup.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/english...players-like-guinea-pigs-over-the-coronavirus

 

I think it is worth watching all of what Last Week Tonight posted today, but in case you can't stand John Oliver just watch about two minutes of it starting at the 18 minute mark (the video below jumps right in at that point). Lifelong Liverpool fan Oliver tells everyone to spend 30 seconds selfishly raging about things that aren't going their way because of the corona virus. He spends his time raging about Liverpool:

 

According to this article there will be a meeting on Thursday to discuss how to handle the Premier League season and the EFL seasons. In the article things, again, don't look good for Fulham with the rumor being that Leeds and West Brom would go up and no one would be relegated.

https://talksport.com/football/6825...st-brom-promotion-premier-league-coronavirus/

Meanwhile all 24 Championship teams expressed a desire to play the remaining games of this season. The EFL will have its own meeting Wednesday to discuss the issue.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51934215

 

d'oh.

 

The goal of the EFL is to complete the season. At what time that objective becomes untenable was not communicated. I like the focus now to finish out the season so promotions and relegations occur as normal. We shall see though...

https://www.efl.com/news/2020/march/efl-statement-board-update-on-coronavirus/

 

Play has been suspended through April now. However, there is still the desire to finish the season by extending it beyond June 1.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51962751

 

Some updates from the EFL. The plan is to try and finish the season, probably behind closed doors, over the span of two months this summer:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52230105

 

I don't think anyone can plan on anything until this virus begins going down the other side of whatever flattened curve we're on. Until that starts, all talk of resuming anything resembling normal life is academic.

 

This is very true, but it's good to at least have a plan in place for when the time comes. Plus, what else does the league have to do now?