EFL make major TV broadcast announcement as Cardiff & Swanse

EFL make major TV broadcast announcement as Cardiff City and Swansea City matches to be played behind closed doors


"With or without spectators, delivering a successful conclusion to the 2019/20 season remains our goal to ensure the integrity of our competitions."

Breaking News

Friday 17th April 2020



The EFL have announced a huge change to their broadcasting plans after admitting the remainder of the 2019/20 is almost certain to be played without crowds

The EFL have revealed they plan to broadcast all remaining matches from the 2019/20 season on TV after admitting it is likely the rest of the campaign will be played behind closed doors.

Football has been on hold since the opening weekend of March due to the coronavirus outbreak, and it remains to be seen when play will resume.

Earlier this month, league chiefs suspended play indefinitely and vowed only to resume the season when safe to do so.

Bosses have held regular meetings in a bid to determine how the current season should be concluded, in line with the latest government advice.

And in an open letter to fans of all 71 EFL clubs, the governing body's chairman Rick Parry has stated matches "are likely to be played without crowds" when the 2019/20 campaign restarts.

As a result of this development, bosses are working with clubs in a bid to conjure up a plan that will see all behind closed doors matches broadcast live via each team's own streaming service.




"To give you an honest assessment of the current situation; the point at which you will be able to attend games again remains unclear," said Parry.

"Please be assured, however, that we are going to welcome you back to stadiums as soon as it is safe to do so.

"Your contribution to the matchday experience and atmospheres created in stadia up and down the country is something we should never take for granted.

"Unfortunately, I cannot tell you today when football will resume, though whenever we do return, matches are likely to be played without crowds.

"And whilst we are unfortunately without the presence of the hundreds of thousands of supporters who pass through EFL turnstiles each week, we will endeavour to bring live football direct into your homes once it returns.

"Plans are continuing to be worked up for all games to be broadcast either via our broadcast partners, iFollow or equivalent club streaming services.

"We will update you on this once we know when matches will recommence.

"With or without spectators, delivering a successful conclusion to the 2019/20 season remains our goal to ensure the integrity of our competitions.

"This, of course, means that a number of factors – including when, where and within what time frame fixtures will be played – must be given careful consideration in line with government advice.

"Similar factors must also be taken into account when agreeing an approach towards player training and testing, not least the appropriate level of medical resource and creation of an effective and efficient medical matchday protocol."

In the letter, Parry once again issued his thanks to NHS staff and other front line workers in what are unprecedented times.

He also said it was "heartening" to see some of the work done by EFL clubs during the course of the global crisis.

Cardiff City have not played since earning a 2-0 win over Barnsley at Oakwell on March 7 while Swansea City held West Brom to a 0-0 draw at the Liberty Stadium on the same day in what was their most recent outing.

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Pie in the Sky. Literally. No chance whatsoever.

Football, without fans, is nothing.

Well here's my view on this
FOOTBALL ISN'T FOOTBALL WITHOUT FANS
And I bet there will be thousands of fans trying to get to there's games causing mayhem around social distancing. If your team are close to obtaining promotion or playoff spot hard core fans will try and attend, just saying.
Shows that money now comes first in front of customers
My pitch... finish leagues now.

integrity ?

Well here's my view on this
FOOTBALL ISN'T FOOTBALL WITHOUT FANS
And I bet there will be thousands of fans trying to get to there's games causing mayhem around social distancing. If your team are close to obtaining promotion or playoff spot hard core fans will try and attend, just saying.
Shows that money now comes first in front of customers
My pitch... finish leagues now.

Safety will come before money and fans mate.

EFL | Open letter to supporters
Club News 6 hours ago

An open letter to supporters from EFL Chair, Rick Parry.


Dear supporter,

The COVID-19 pandemic has, quite clearly, brought about challenges which extend beyond the game we all love,
and led to an unprecedented and testing situation for everyone.

In these circumstances, open and honest communication is more important than ever, and it is with this in mind that
I am writing directly to supporters of every EFL Club today on the 132nd anniversary of the foundation of the Football
League.

I want to start by offering my condolences to those who have lost loved ones to this terrible disease. I would also
like to acknowledge once again the incredible work being carried out by key workers, including front-line NHS staff
and carers, at this difficult time. Their collective sacrifice for the health and wellbeing of others is something to be
truly proud of, and one which – on behalf of the EFL – I would like to sincerely thank them for.

It is often said that football is like a family, and we have seen that many of those undertaking vital work are fans of
EFL Clubs. From Bristol to Bolton and Colchester to Carlisle, supporters across the country are among the heroes
making a positive impact, and it has been heartening to see and hear the stories of people coming together at such
a crucial time.

Our Clubs are also rising to the challenge and are carrying out important work in their local communities. We know
that eight in 10 people in England and Wales live within a 15-mile radius of an EFL club, so whether it’s offering
practical, emotional or physical support, the help football clubs are providing should not be underestimated.

It is, of course, by continuing to adhere to Government guidelines that we can all play our part in the national effort
against coronavirus and so I’d also like to take this opportunity to urge you all to stay at home. In doing so, you will
save lives.

When it comes to footballing matters, I understand the desire among fans for definitive answers, particularly around
the conclusion of 2019/20 campaign. As I am sure you will appreciate, the situation presents significant operational
and financial challenges, including the logistics of Clubs returning to full operational status, the practicalities of
playing football behind closed doors, and the possible knock-on effects for the 2020/21 campaign. Please be
assured that we are working hard on these and will update you as soon as we can once decisions have been made.

To give you an honest assessment of the current situation; the point at which you will be able to attend games again
remains unclear. Please be assured, however, that we are going to welcome you back to stadiums as soon as it is
safe to do so. Your contribution to the matchday experience and atmospheres created in stadia up and down the
country is something we should never take for granted. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you today when football will
resume, though whenever we do return, matches are likely to be played without crowds.

And whilst we are unfortunately without the presence of the hundreds of thousands of supporters who pass through
EFL turnstiles each week, we will endeavour to bring live football direct into your homes once it returns. Plans are
continuing to be worked up for all games to be broadcast either via our broadcast partners, iFollow or equivalent
Club streaming services. We will update you on this once we know when matches will recommence.

The contribution to football’s finances made by match-going supporters should not be underestimated. It is critical
to the business model of league football. Perhaps the biggest challenge right now is not knowing when we will be
able to reintroduce football in front of crowds. We can only hope that the situation develops in such a way that we
will be able to do with the shortest possible break.

With or without spectators, delivering a successful conclusion to the 2019/20 season remains our goal to ensure
the integrity of our competitions. This, of course, means that a number of factors – including when, where and
within what timeframe fixtures will be played – must be given careful consideration in line with Government advice.

Similar factors must also be taken into account when agreeing an approach towards player training and testing, not
least the appropriate level of medical resource and creation of an effective and efficient medical matchday protocol.

As we’ve previously stated, the health and wellbeing of our Clubs, their players and staff, and you – the fans –
remains our first priority, and so you can appreciate that we want to give thorough and rigorous thought to these
matters.

From the outset, we have committed to regular dialogue with each of these groups, as well as the Government, in
order to tackle the challenges we face as effectively as possible. As well as taking into account the current climate
in terms of public opinion, including those views of fans, we are regularly taking ideas and suggestions from our
Clubs.

Aside from two catastrophic World Wars, this pandemic is arguably the most challenging issue to have affected
football since the League was founded 132 years ago. Our Clubs have been left with significant outgoings while
facing a sudden loss of income. With this in mind, I’m sure you will be aware of talk about wages and deferrals.

Good progress is being made in these areas, with a view to this assisting in delivering medium to long-term solutions
that protect our game for years to come.

As I said when I arrived, the EFL and its Clubs matter to many people, but most of all to the supporters. It is natural,
at this stage, that you will have many questions, and we will endeavour to continue to provide answers and solutions,
but we must do so with your health – as well as that of the entire nation - in mind.

I thank you for your patience so far and ask for more of the same; this is a serious situation which is changing by
the day, and one which requires informed and considered decisions. The next few weeks will bring more clarity
when it comes to our operational plans and, as always, we’ll look to maintain regular communication.

One thing we can be sure of is that football, and normality, will return, and will so do more quickly if we remain
united.

For now, thank you for your ongoing support and, please, stay safe.

Yours sincerely,

Rick Parry
EFL Chairman

integrity ?

Exactly replace that with MONEY

While football won't be the same without fans I'd take football on T.V. in any form at the moment as long as its safe to do so.

While football won't be the same without fans I'd take football on T.V. in any form at the moment as long as its safe to do so.

I wouldn't watch it without fans being present. Would be meaningless.

While football won't be the same without fans I'd take football on T.V. in any form at the moment as long as its safe to do so.

Totally agree mate.

I can see this going ahead and it will be a blessing in disguise for us fans.

Just watch TV viewings drop like a stone in mid air. Who is going to watch their team play in an empty stadium without hearing their own fans voice? I can see fans getting turned off after a couple of games. This will make the authorities realise what we have been saying all along, football without fans is nothing.

I can see this going ahead and it will be a blessing in disguise for us fans.

Just watch TV viewings drop like a stone in mid air. Who is going to watch their team play in an empty stadium without hearing their own fans voice? I can see fans getting turned off after a couple of games. This will make the authorities realise what we have been saying all along, football without fans is nothing.

I see your point and of course it’s possible that would happen.
Personally speaking (and this is personally) I wouldn’t have a problem watching without background noise as I’ve often switched off the sound of the ‘home’ commentators when watching streams of city games.
I realise it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea so to speak but I’ve spoken to a few fans who are saying that lockdown would be a lot easier with some live sport / footy to watch, regardless of whether it’s behind closed doors for now.
I do see your point tho mate.

While football won't be the same without fans I'd take football on T.V. in any form at the moment as long as its safe to do so.

I wouldn't watch it without fans being present. Would be meaningless.

I haven't seen anything positive from you at all, so the word 'meaningless' can also be attributed to your comments on here of late and I'm sure that if Cardiff City (if they are your team) were playing 'behind closed doors', you would watch or listen

Having said that, if the alternative to completing this season without (real) supporters is to cancel it in readiness for next season without the correct teams being in the correct divisions and all that entails, I think a lot of (real) supporters will walk away from the game...at least for a period of time

Certain clubs (particularly three in the Premier League) will have their reasons for wanting the season halted right now, whilst others will want it to continue. Which, in your opinion is the more reasoned argument? The likes of Leeds, West From (plus one other) being allowed the opportunity to try and finish what they have 80% started or the likes (maybe) of an exceptionally poor Norwich, one-man Villa and possibly Bournemouth being retrieved from falling through the trap door through mechanical failure?

The old adage "Finish the job you started before moving on to the next one" seems to be modernly missing, as more and more people take the 'soft' option and abandon what they've started because it's 'easier' and not necessarily the 'right and proper' thing to do...

I can see this going ahead and it will be a blessing in disguise for us fans.

Just watch TV viewings drop like a stone in mid air. Who is going to watch their team play in an empty stadium without hearing their own fans voice? I can see fans getting turned off after a couple of games. This will make the authorities realise what we have been saying all along, football without fans is nothing.

I see your point and that might well happen; but surely it is better to see this season through than to abandon it never knowing what the outcome would have been?

I know other events have been cancelled but (a) several of those have set dates in an already crowded calendar (Wimbledon, The Open, etc.), whilst (b) football has 'options' that include concluding this season at a later date and then considering what can or cannot be achieved in the next (season)

I firmly believe there should be an outcome for the existing season and the clubs involved in promotion/relegation and I am 100% sure that we would be screaming from the rafters to continue if we were in the position of Leeds and West From right now, whilst campaigning for an abandonment if we were in the position of a Norwich, Villa or Bournemouth

Too much on the line to abandon this season and if that means playing 'behind closed doors' then maybe that is the better option to ensure (as I've said elsewhere) the right teams are in the right divisions with all that entails positively (for some) and negatively (for others)?

The season should be cancelled straight away,thousands of people dying around the world and people are worried about football.

The season should be cancelled straight away,thousands of people dying around the world and people are worried about football.

Don’t think anyone is ‘worried’ about football mate but it’s a topic of conversation / debate at a difficult time.
Should we not watch light hearted programmes on tv due to what’s going on in the world?

I reckon it’s a good thing.. get it done and dusted, get back in August..

While football won't be the same without fans I'd take football on T.V. in any form at the moment as long as its safe to do so.

I wouldn't watch it without fans being present. Would be meaningless.

I haven't seen anything positive from you at all, so the word 'meaningless' can also be attributed to your comments on here of late and I'm sure that if Cardiff City (if they are your team) were playing 'behind closed doors', you would watch or listen

Having said that, if the alternative to completing this season without (real) supporters is to cancel it in readiness for next season without the correct teams being in the correct divisions and all that entails, I think a lot of (real) supporters will walk away from the game...at least for a period of time

Certain clubs (particularly three in the Premier League) will have their reasons for wanting the season halted right now, whilst others will want it to continue. Which, in your opinion is the more reasoned argument? The likes of Leeds, West From (plus one other) being allowed the opportunity to try and finish what they have 80% started or the likes (maybe) of an exceptionally poor Norwich, one-man Villa and possibly Bournemouth being retrieved from falling through the trap door through mechanical failure?

The old adage "Finish the job you started before moving on to the next one" seems to be modernly missing, as more and more people take the 'soft' option and abandon what they've started because it's 'easier' and not necessarily the 'right and proper' thing to do...

:
Let's try to make a comparison:
Watching City v Leeds in a packed out 30,000 plus crowd in CCS with a spine tingling atmosphere OR watching on TV the same fixture with thousands of empty seats and 50 people, how awful would that be? The point I am trying to make is quite simple:

Football, without fans, is nothing.

While football won't be the same without fans I'd take football on T.V. in any form at the moment as long as its safe to do so.

I wouldn't watch it without fans being present. Would be meaningless.

I haven't seen anything positive from you at all, so the word 'meaningless' can also be attributed to your comments on here of late and I'm sure that if Cardiff City (if they are your team) were playing 'behind closed doors', you would watch or listen

Having said that, if the alternative to completing this season without (real) supporters is to cancel it in readiness for next season without the correct teams being in the correct divisions and all that entails, I think a lot of (real) supporters will walk away from the game...at least for a period of time

Certain clubs (particularly three in the Premier League) will have their reasons for wanting the season halted right now, whilst others will want it to continue. Which, in your opinion is the more reasoned argument? The likes of Leeds, West From (plus one other) being allowed the opportunity to try and finish what they have 80% started or the likes (maybe) of an exceptionally poor Norwich, one-man Villa and possibly Bournemouth being retrieved from falling through the trap door through mechanical failure?

The old adage "Finish the job you started before moving on to the next one" seems to be modernly missing, as more and more people take the 'soft' option and abandon what they've started because it's 'easier' and not necessarily the 'right and proper' thing to do...

:
Let's try to make a comparison:
Watching City v Leeds in a packed out 30,000 plus crowd in CCS with a spine tingling atmosphere OR watching on TV the same fixture with thousands of empty seats and 50 people, how awful would that be? The point I am trying to make is quite simple:

Football, without fans, is nothing.

Tbf I think everyone would prefer the atmosphere v Leeds as you’ve described but that’s unlikely to happen Any time soon. I for one, will be more than happy to watch behind closed doors on tv until the fans’ return is deemed safe.

The season should be cancelled straight away,thousands of people dying around the world and people are worried about football.

people die all over the world all the time though. loved ones , neighbours , friends, workmates.. but life goes on .
doesn't mean people do not care if they arnt constantly talking about death..

While football won't be the same without fans I'd take football on T.V. in any form at the moment as long as its safe to do so.

I wouldn't watch it without fans being present. Would be meaningless.

I haven't seen anything positive from you at all, so the word 'meaningless' can also be attributed to your comments on here of late and I'm sure that if Cardiff City (if they are your team) were playing 'behind closed doors', you would watch or listen

Having said that, if the alternative to completing this season without (real) supporters is to cancel it in readiness for next season without the correct teams being in the correct divisions and all that entails, I think a lot of (real) supporters will walk away from the game...at least for a period of time

Certain clubs (particularly three in the Premier League) will have their reasons for wanting the season halted right now, whilst others will want it to continue. Which, in your opinion is the more reasoned argument? The likes of Leeds, West From (plus one other) being allowed the opportunity to try and finish what they have 80% started or the likes (maybe) of an exceptionally poor Norwich, one-man Villa and possibly Bournemouth being retrieved from falling through the trap door through mechanical failure?

The old adage "Finish the job you started before moving on to the next one" seems to be modernly missing, as more and more people take the 'soft' option and abandon what they've started because it's 'easier' and not necessarily the 'right and proper' thing to do...

:
Let's try to make a comparison:
Watching City v Leeds in a packed out 30,000 plus crowd in CCS with a spine tingling atmosphere OR watching on TV the same fixture with thousands of empty seats and 50 people, how awful would that be? The point I am trying to make is quite simple:

Football, without fans, is nothing.

Certainly diminished but not nothing

The season should be cancelled straight away,thousands of people dying around the world and people are worried about football.

people die all over the world all the time though. loved ones , neighbours , friends, workmates.. but life goes on .
doesn't mean people do not care if they arnt constantly talking about death..

This is a bit different tho isn’t it.

The season should be cancelled straight away,thousands of people dying around the world and people are worried about football.

people die all over the world all the time though. loved ones , neighbours , friends, workmates.. but life goes on .
doesn't mean people do not care if they arnt constantly talking about death..

This is a bit different tho isn’t it.

It’s a terrible state of affairs but in times of despair what people tend to do is look for things that can have a positive impact on them. It happened in the world wars too I’m sure.
Certainly doesn’t mean people think more about football than the current awful situation the world is in.

The season should be cancelled straight away,thousands of people dying around the world and people are worried about football.

people die all over the world all the time though. loved ones , neighbours , friends, workmates.. but life goes on .
doesn't mean people do not care if they arnt constantly talking about death..

This is a bit different tho isn’t it.

yes and no... its quite a lot of deaths over a short space of time but is a small amount in the grand scheme of things...no doubt if someone close to me dies it becomes more personal but ive lost both parents previously which were very tough times..i still went out mate.. worked /went to school ..life went on..
im not desperate to see a game on one hand. .but will be over the moon when I can have a pint with mates go to a game etc...my interest remains..

The season should be cancelled straight away,thousands of people dying around the world and people are worried about football.

people die all over the world all the time though. loved ones , neighbours , friends, workmates.. but life goes on .
doesn't mean people do not care if they arnt constantly talking about death..

This is a bit different tho isn’t it.

yes and no... its quite a lot of deaths over a short space of time but is a small amount in the grand scheme of things...no doubt if someone close to me dies it becomes more personal but ive lost both parents previously which were very tough times..i still went out mate.. worked /went to school ..life went on..
im not desperate to see a game on one hand. .but will be over the moon when I can have a pint with mates go to a game etc...my interest remains..

Look I will feel the same pints in the pub and going to the football,its just the timing at the moment when we seem to be in the eye of the storm talking about getting football back on so soon.

It just feels like this season is over and I personally would rather start back a fresh when when things are safe and sad memories healing a little.

Deemed unsafe for spectators to stand close to each other yet fine for football players to be in constant physical touch with each other for 90 plus minutes.
Players are also continually gobbing all over the place, sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

"If" we got promoted behind closed doors and where back in the prem for next season the crowd issue for this season would disappear.

"If" we got promoted behind closed doors and where back in the prem for next season the crowd issue for this season would disappear.

im probably in a minority but ive enjoyed all of our promotion years far more than the season that follows it. id love to go up but would also like to be part of it... and I quite like the championship so ending it now would suit me.

"If" we got promoted behind closed doors and where back in the prem for next season the crowd issue for this season would disappear.

im probably in a minority but ive enjoyed all of our promotion years far more than the season that follows it. id love to go up but would also like to be part of it... and I quite like the championship so ending it now would suit me.

There's sense in both your posts (above)