REPORT: ENDING PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON EARLY NOT DISCUSSED

Premier League clubs have not considered null and voiding season, says Brighton chief executive
Sky Sports News

Paul Barber believes any conclusion to league campaign will be "imperfect"; describes coronavirus crisis as "rude awakening" for football industry


Brighton chief executive Paul Barber says the option to null and void the Premier League season has 'never been on the table' and insists clubs remain determined to finish the campaign in full.

The Premier League campaign has been suspended since March 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with 92 games remaining to determine the league title, European qualification and relegation.

Barber insists there remains a "very significant determination" among all 20 clubs to conclude the 38-game league season when it is safe to do so but concedes any conclusion will be "imperfect".


Asked whether voiding the league campaign has ever been on the table, Barber told Sky Sports News: "No it hasn't.

"From everyone's point of view as I have said many times before this crisis started, we go into a season wanting to play out 38 games and we want to do that by playing 19 games at home and 19 games away from home.

"Ideally, in the same conditions with the full crowd. I think because of what we are facing with the pandemic we accept that whatever happens to the end of this season it is going to be imperfect.

"We have already had a long delay - the last time we played was on March 7 at Wolves.

"It seems like a very long time ago but equally we are very conscious that it doesn't seem quite right to be talking too much about football when 700-800 people a day are losing their lives.

"It is a real devastating time for so many people around the country. Our hearts and thoughts go out to those people who are suffering so much at the moment.

"But football is also important to us because it is our business but at the same time we are very mindful of doing it at the right time and in the right way when it is safe to do so."


Following the latest Premier League meeting on Friday, June 8 has emerged as the best-case scenario for when the Premier League season could restart, with a targeted start date of the 2020/21 campaign in early September.

"We are all speculating on dates, we are trying to put some certainty in a very uncertain situation," Barber said.

"But I think, first of all, everyone is determined to finish the season if we can but equally everyone is very concerned about people's health and not putting anymore pressure on the NHS.

"It is about getting that balance between wanting to finish the season and not compromising all the efforts the government are making to keep everyone safe."

Brighton sit two points clear of the relegation zone - occupied by Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich - with nine games left to play.

Barber also described the financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak, which has led to a shutdown of sport, as a "rude awakening" for the industry.

"It is a big shock to the system and it does make you think very hard about the structure of the business," Barber said.


"Obviously, it is an opportunity to reflect and I am sure will take that opportunity at every level to reflect on such a big shock to our system.

"Looking ahead to the transfer market I am sure there is going to be some impact in the next window, maybe the next two or three, but as we all know the best players all want to play for the best teams in the best leagues.

"Eventually there will be some kind of normality that returns to the market, whether that is two or three windows or in the very next window."

well as the weeks go by its something they are going to have to at least discuss at some point..

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

They could end it now and hand the trophy (rightfully) to Liverpool

For me, the bigger issue is the relegation/promotion between the Premier League and Championship

They aren't necessarily 'burying their heads in the sand' and see finishing this season

Doing so, even at the expense of next season, would be the right and proper thing to do

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

They could end it now and hand the trophy (rightfully) to Liverpool

For me, the bigger issue is the relegation/promotion between the Premier League and Championship

They aren't necessarily 'burying their heads in the sand' and see finishing this season

Doing so, even at the expense of next season, would be the right and proper thing to do

It’s all opinions at this stage. For be the “right and proper thing to do” is to scrap it now and focus on the more important things in life. This year should be remembered for all the brave key workers working in very difficult circumstances, and to remember the 000s who have sadly past. I believe that’s what we should remember not who won the epl and who got relegated or promoted.

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

They could end it now and hand the trophy (rightfully) to Liverpool

For me, the bigger issue is the relegation/promotion between the Premier League and Championship

They aren't necessarily 'burying their heads in the sand' and see finishing this season

Doing so, even at the expense of next season, would be the right and proper thing to do

It’s all opinions at this stage. For be the “right and proper thing to do” is to scrap it now and focus on the more important things in life. This year should be remembered for all the brave key workers working in very difficult circumstances, and to remember the 000s who have sadly past. I believe that’s what we should remember not who won the epl and who got relegated or promoted.

All opinions but I beg to differ on the sporting factor

I am sure that the vast majority will weep for the dead and remember them in the right way, as with other major incidents and tragedies in the past

Elsewhere, once this pandemic is over there will be a need to regain some kind of focus on normality. In the UK (and many other countries) that will include a lot of things that will include sport and in particular football. It is in our blood and part of our local and national identity

I can't see anyone arguing that football should be stopped ad infinitum, so the question is do we continue this season (my personal option) or bin it and start another without concluding this one?

As I've said elsewhere, the right and proper thing to do in footballing terms is to finish what we started, i.e. get the right teams in the right divisions before another commences; even if a large part of that is for financial reasons for the clubs that could miss out

Not sure about you but I can't see the Premier League giving £100's of millions to clubs that 'might' have made it to avoid litigation, whilst also protecting the three teams that 'might' have come down to The Championship

That would amount to around £1 billion over the (minimum) years of payments!

I agree with a lot you say. Like you said it’s in our blood it’s our game, so we should be there. But that could be 3 months to 2 years away yet. So do we resume the season say 12 months down the line?

There’s also European club competition to fit in plus the euros then World Cup qualifying its sad to say something somewhere is going to have to give. If things go on to long then I think the simplest and neatest way is to scrap this season for all leagues in all countries. Not the ideal solution I agree but I feel the best, because we can’t have football behind closed doors it’s the fans game not the corporate companies game.

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

They could end it now and hand the trophy (rightfully) to Liverpool

For me, the bigger issue is the relegation/promotion between the Premier League and Championship

They aren't necessarily 'burying their heads in the sand' and see finishing this season

Doing so, even at the expense of next season, would be the right and proper thing to do

And you're not a liverpool fan lol theres much more to life than the football starting atm

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

They could end it now and hand the trophy (rightfully) to Liverpool

For me, the bigger issue is the relegation/promotion between the Premier League and Championship

They aren't necessarily 'burying their heads in the sand' and see finishing this season

Doing so, even at the expense of next season, would be the right and proper thing to do

Why is it the right and proper thing then or are you that desperate to see liverpool lift the prem trophy

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

They could end it now and hand the trophy (rightfully) to Liverpool

For me, the bigger issue is the relegation/promotion between the Premier League and Championship

They aren't necessarily 'burying their heads in the sand' and see finishing this season

Doing so, even at the expense of next season, would be the right and proper thing to do

It’s all opinions at this stage. For be the “right and proper thing to do” is to scrap it now and focus on the more important things in life. This year should be remembered for all the brave key workers working in very difficult circumstances, and to remember the 000s who have sadly past. I believe that’s what we should remember not who won the epl and who got relegated or promoted.

what about the 000s who normally pass...

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

They could end it now and hand the trophy (rightfully) to Liverpool

For me, the bigger issue is the relegation/promotion between the Premier League and Championship

They aren't necessarily 'burying their heads in the sand' and see finishing this season

Doing so, even at the expense of next season, would be the right and proper thing to do

It’s all opinions at this stage. For be the “right and proper thing to do” is to scrap it now and focus on the more important things in life. This year should be remembered for all the brave key workers working in very difficult circumstances, and to remember the 000s who have sadly past. I believe that’s what we should remember not who won the epl and who got relegated or promoted.

what about the 000s who normally pass...

Using that logic you could say that about every memorial, minute of silence, Remembrance Day etc.

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

They could end it now and hand the trophy (rightfully) to Liverpool

For me, the bigger issue is the relegation/promotion between the Premier League and Championship

They aren't necessarily 'burying their heads in the sand' and see finishing this season

Doing so, even at the expense of next season, would be the right and proper thing to do

It’s all opinions at this stage. For be the “right and proper thing to do” is to scrap it now and focus on the more important things in life. This year should be remembered for all the brave key workers working in very difficult circumstances, and to remember the 000s who have sadly past. I believe that’s what we should remember not who won the epl and who got relegated or promoted.

what about the 000s who normally pass...

Using that logic you could say that about every memorial, minute of silence, Remembrance Day etc.

not really.. far more people die every day of every week here than are dying or are going to die of covid.. and wars commemorate millions of lives lost...just don't understand the logic of not playing because 20 or 50k have died of this when 165,000 die just from cancer every year..

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

They could end it now and hand the trophy (rightfully) to Liverpool

For me, the bigger issue is the relegation/promotion between the Premier League and Championship

They aren't necessarily 'burying their heads in the sand' and see finishing this season

Doing so, even at the expense of next season, would be the right and proper thing to do

It’s all opinions at this stage. For be the “right and proper thing to do” is to scrap it now and focus on the more important things in life. This year should be remembered for all the brave key workers working in very difficult circumstances, and to remember the 000s who have sadly past. I believe that’s what we should remember not who won the epl and who got relegated or promoted.

what about the 000s who normally pass...

Using that logic you could say that about every memorial, minute of silence, Remembrance Day etc.

not really.. far more people die every day of every week here than are dying or are going to die of covid.. and wars commemorate millions of lives lost...just don't understand the logic of not playing because 20 or 50k have died of this when 165,000 die just from cancer every year..

That wasn’t the sole reason was it??

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

They could end it now and hand the trophy (rightfully) to Liverpool

For me, the bigger issue is the relegation/promotion between the Premier League and Championship

They aren't necessarily 'burying their heads in the sand' and see finishing this season

Doing so, even at the expense of next season, would be the right and proper thing to do

It’s all opinions at this stage. For be the “right and proper thing to do” is to scrap it now and focus on the more important things in life. This year should be remembered for all the brave key workers working in very difficult circumstances, and to remember the 000s who have sadly past. I believe that’s what we should remember not who won the epl and who got relegated or promoted.

what about the 000s who normally pass...

Using that logic you could say that about every memorial, minute of silence, Remembrance Day etc.

not really.. far more people die every day of every week here than are dying or are going to die of covid.. and wars commemorate millions of lives lost...just don't understand the logic of not playing because 20 or 50k have died of this when 165,000 die just from cancer every year..

That wasn’t the sole reason was it??

sole reason for what ?... as for the football I think this season should be called off because it looks like even after this lockdown its going to be other restrictions and therefore seems unrealistic.. but deaths are not good no matter what a person dies of..

Burying their head in the sand and desperate to get enough games in for Liverpool to win it... even if they can't sort out the relegation and Euro spots

They could end it now and hand the trophy (rightfully) to Liverpool

For me, the bigger issue is the relegation/promotion between the Premier League and Championship

They aren't necessarily 'burying their heads in the sand' and see finishing this season

Doing so, even at the expense of next season, would be the right and proper thing to do

It’s all opinions at this stage. For be the “right and proper thing to do” is to scrap it now and focus on the more important things in life. This year should be remembered for all the brave key workers working in very difficult circumstances, and to remember the 000s who have sadly past. I believe that’s what we should remember not who won the epl and who got relegated or promoted.

what about the 000s who normally pass...

Using that logic you could say that about every memorial, minute of silence, Remembrance Day etc.

not really.. far more people die every day of every week here than are dying or are going to die of covid.. and wars commemorate millions of lives lost...just don't understand the logic of not playing because 20 or 50k have died of this when 165,000 die just from cancer every year..

That wasn’t the sole reason was it??

sole reason for what ?... as for the football I think this season should be called off because it looks like even after this lockdown its going to be other restrictions and therefore seems unrealistic.. but deaths are not good no matter what a person dies of..

Well we agree on the same thing then. Result for both of us.