Should football return or is it really nothing without fans?

We always hear that phrase - "football is nothing without fans."

Seems we're about to find out if that true as it appears the Premier League and the EFL plan to restart in May or June.

I can see why they want to, its mainly about money and they don't want to give back the huge amount of revenue they've received from Sky and BT.

But, this would be behind closed doors.

It could finally debunk the theory that football is nothing without fans. Or it could make it clearer than ever.

So what is everyone's opinion on what should happened to the current season?

I’ve watched closed door matches when fans were banned from Euro games, weird and definitely less of an event. Null and void this season.

Get the season finished ASAP

It will be played behind closed doors with the safety of the players, support staff and media Paramount and as many safety precautions taken as is practical

The country needs to get back to some sort of normality as soon as it’s possible because if we leave it too long it will be a catastrophe for the economy and it will not recover for at least a decade or even more

All talk of resumption is wishful, when all risk assessments point to null and void.

Null and void season unlucky Leeds

Null and void season unlucky Leeds

Works for me

Null and void this season,this virus and the time It’s lasting has beaten the footballing chiefs.

Null and void. If they play behind closed doors it’s to satisfy the money men not for the fans benefits. It be another big step towards losing it to commercial reasons. It was already slipping away from the average person. It be another nail in the coffin. Be careful what you wish for. If we accept this now turning red would seem like a hiccup to not be able to watch our club live.

All talk of resumption is wishful, when all risk assessments point to null and void.

If we all relied on risk assessments nobody would go back to work for months, so how would that work then??

Null and void season unlucky Leeds

That’s an excellent point, I’ve suddenly changed my mind definitely should be null and void

All talk of resumption is wishful, when all risk assessments point to null and void.

If we all relied on risk assessments nobody would go back to work for months, so how would that work then??

They are already there. The work place is about to change..

And most jobs don’t involve close marking your colleagues at corners..

Part of the worldwide appeal of the PL is because of the atmosphere within the full stadiums. PL regulations go along way to make sure this happens including away fans areas having to extend to pitch side (which somehow Newcastle are the only side ever to avoid in their ground).

Football in empty stadiums is a fraction of the appeal of football in full stadiums.

But to me its better than no football.

Especially with the season almost to a close and the end of season issues all to resolve.

Players want paying (huge sums) and I'd suggest if they want paying then playing in a fully tested, controlled environment becomes their choice. And frankly much less of a risk than NHS and shop workers have been taking already.

If the broadcasters can get their act together and free to air channels can broadcast fixtures that Sky, BT don't select the attraction of watching live football during this time would be a tonic to many. There are cameras at all grounds for fixtures in all four divisions so the logistics should be possible.

Broadcasters, both here in UK and abroad would then have to fully fund their contractual commitments and if agreement could be reached for PL to filter just some of that money to lower league clubs it is likely to be the difference between many of them surviving or going to the wall.

Its not ideal but it's the best of a bad bunch of choices in my book.

A wholly complicated measure that could get fans inside grounds is to allow a quarter, or other suitable percentage, of season tickets onto each remaining fixture. Certainly for us if we have 18,000 season ticket holders 6,000 could be surely be allowed in to a fully open stadium and suitably spaced out to maintain social distancing? Don't get me wrong, it's really not ideal but it's maybe better than an empty stadium if the clubs could manage to suitably allocate seats. Lots of issues and things like people living in the same house actually being able to sit by each other buy better than completely empty grounds. Certainly for this "season" season tickets aren't going to be refunded so any "live" football is a bonus. If people choose not to go that's up to them. Clearly not for now in Lockdown but by the time any thing gets underway if schools and shops are widely open it could be a way. Frankly the ground wouldn't look any different to the family stand has been for most mid week fixtures this season.

'How many have to die?': Gary Neville voices fears over Premier League plans

Gary Neville fears Premier League players' lives will be put at risk if football is rushed back too soon after the coronavirus-enforced lockdown in Britain.

Premier League chiefs are aiming for a return to action in June and several clubs opened their training grounds to players this week as they work on "Project Restart".

The English top flight is understood to be aiming to run a huge testing operation to keep footballers safe, with reports of 26,000 tests being lined up for players and staff.

"The FIFA medical officer said that football should not take place before September. I think if it was a non-economic decision there would be no football for months," Neville told the Sky Sports Football Show on Wednesday.

"People are now assessing risk. How many people have to die playing football in the Premier League before it becomes unpalatable? One? One player? One member of staff goes into intensive care? What risk do we have to take? The discussion is purely economic."