Coronavirus and football

True - knowing MOTD they'll probably show us losing 8-0 to Man
City !

 

True - and all the games they show will doubtless be EPL ones. Personally, I'd like to see classics like the last match televised in the country before the snow hit in 1962 - a true classic match that was.

It's merely a coincidence that it was Watford beating Carlisle 5-1...

 

I love to watch those old matches from the 70s. It was a very different game then, but it’s very entertaining to watch - although you do find yourself wincing at a lot of the ‘tackles’.

 

Looks like it's all about to kick-off - but not the kick-off we all hope for, the one that the lawyers are salivating over.

“We have had enquiries from overseas broadcasters, who have paid a lot of money to broadcast Premier League matches in their respective jurisdictions and currently have no matches to show.....They are looking at potentially suing the Premier League for the absence of content on their TV channels."
All I can see coming out of this is the end of ludicrously high player salaries and the end of televised football. back to the pre-Johnny Haynes days?

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...gal-threat-from-tv-broadcasters-a4404831.html

 

Heard it's the French up in arms.

 

Yes - it does say in the article that Canal+ have said they're not paying the next installment of rights monies due this Sunday.

 

Can I get my sky money back?..

 

The Belgian Pro League has been abandoned with leaders Brugge awarded the title. Surely this will set a precedent that other national leagues will follow?

 

Which.

 

It seems they split the league in two anyway as in Scotland so this was a natural point to end the season.

Brugge were enough points ahead already.

Did read a while back they had just agreed a new TV deal for next season so wonder if they were under pressure to come up with a resolution for this season?

Like you say will other leagues follow..​

 

De Bruyne has come out and said he believes the Premier League should be cancelled to protect the safety of the players. I'm sure many more will follow in the coming days.

 

The Premier League’s position at the top of world football could be in danger if a solution to reducing player wages during the coronavirus crisis is not found, an analyst has warned.

A week of talks between football bodies and the players’ union, the PFA, has led to little movement before an extraordinary Premier League shareholders meeting on Friday.

Away from negotiations, debate has centred on the tone-deafness of some clubs seeking taxpayers’ money to furlough non-playing staff.

According to one expert, however, it is also possible that substantial wage bills could hinder the Premier League’s ability to bounce back after the crisis, leaving leading players as easy pickings for rival leagues.

 

Clubs asking players to take 30% pay cut.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52148955

 

on the face of it , seems reasonable, although i’m sure players agents will not like it !
i suppose at higher levels they can certainly take the hit , but at lower leagues where money will be more acute , could be a problem ....

 

It looks as if the Dutch Eredivisie may shortly follow suit. Marc Overmars has said that the league should be scrapped - but with nobody declared as champions. Ajax were joint top with AZ Alkmaar and leading on goal difference. He has also said that Ajax would refuse to play if they were forced to finish the season and other Dutch clubs have backed him up on this, including AZ and Feyenoord.

 

I think.. Totally fair.. And redistributed..

 

Bankers taking a cut in their wages, or is this a class issue? When I see all people earning ‘footballers’ wages’ then I expect them to do their bit. Just not first because they are more visible and generally don’t wear ‘old school ties’.

 

Good point.. Of course there will be a percentage of wealthy Brits who will give nothing, or do tokenism...

 

Certainly didn't seem to be any pressure on other very rich "celebs".

Issue was the football clubs themselves were laying off non paying staff so it made the players look bad they weren't having to take a cut.

Even though some had donanted and offered help on in other ways.

 

Yes. I think football is a highly visible media 'sport', excuse the pun..
And at times like this the lay differentials are stark. Plus sports journalists have nothing to say!