Football could be played behind closed doors for the entire
Fri May 01, 2020 1:37 pm
The Times
No football fans at Cardiff City and Swansea City matches until 2021/22 season - shock plan now being considered
Supporters may be barred from stadiums until the 2021/22 season.
By Tom Coleman
Friday 1 May 2020
Sport
Football could be played behind closed doors for the entirety of next season.
According to The Times, the sport's authorities are considering plans that would initially see football go behind closed doors until at least Christmas, with suggestions the measures could last until May 2021.
The move would be as part of a continued effort to control the coronavirus pandemic, with thoughts the government's restrictions on mass gatherings could be tied to the availability of a widely available vaccine.
The measures would also apply to other sports, as well as music festivals.
Going behind closed doors would, of course, result in a huge drop-off in revenue for clubs, likely threatening the very existence of those in lower leagues.
Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman has already warned the club will have to suffer "quite a lot of pain" on the back of the crisis, while Swansea City's first team squad, boss Steve Cooper and chairman Trevor Birch have all agreed to a 20 per cent wage deferral.
The Football Association are said to be looking into ways they can soften the blow for clubs should behind-closed-doors games be adopted heading into next season.
Part of the solution could be linked to a broadcast deal - be it with a broadcaster or using streaming platforms - where more or even all games are made available to watch with supporters paying a fee to tune in, as they would with match tickets.
Premier League clubs are set to meet today to discuss plans to finish the season, while discussions are ongoing in the EFL.
It's thought decisions on this season will be prioritised, though the FA are already looking ahead to next season and how the pandemic could impact the game for the extended future.
No football fans at Cardiff City and Swansea City matches until 2021/22 season - shock plan now being considered
Supporters may be barred from stadiums until the 2021/22 season.
By Tom Coleman
Friday 1 May 2020
Sport
Football could be played behind closed doors for the entirety of next season.
According to The Times, the sport's authorities are considering plans that would initially see football go behind closed doors until at least Christmas, with suggestions the measures could last until May 2021.
The move would be as part of a continued effort to control the coronavirus pandemic, with thoughts the government's restrictions on mass gatherings could be tied to the availability of a widely available vaccine.
The measures would also apply to other sports, as well as music festivals.
Going behind closed doors would, of course, result in a huge drop-off in revenue for clubs, likely threatening the very existence of those in lower leagues.
Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman has already warned the club will have to suffer "quite a lot of pain" on the back of the crisis, while Swansea City's first team squad, boss Steve Cooper and chairman Trevor Birch have all agreed to a 20 per cent wage deferral.
The Football Association are said to be looking into ways they can soften the blow for clubs should behind-closed-doors games be adopted heading into next season.
Part of the solution could be linked to a broadcast deal - be it with a broadcaster or using streaming platforms - where more or even all games are made available to watch with supporters paying a fee to tune in, as they would with match tickets.
Premier League clubs are set to meet today to discuss plans to finish the season, while discussions are ongoing in the EFL.
It's thought decisions on this season will be prioritised, though the FA are already looking ahead to next season and how the pandemic could impact the game for the extended future.
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Re: Football could be played behind closed doors for the ent
Fri May 01, 2020 2:14 pm
If that is the case i don't see why they need to rush this season to conclusion by any set date. Finish it when we know a lot more, because I don't think there will be a clamour next season to watch sterile, no atmosphere games behind closed doors after the initial relief of watching sport again.
No way I am paying for Cardiff games and sky behind closed doors. I am a fan who attends home games, I like the experience. When the game is live on the box I still go to the game even in appalling weather or if my daughter can't make it and it would be easier to sit at home.
The premier league top 6 will be landed, this gives them the opportunity to have breakaway deals. Man U maybe (relatively) shit but if they are allowed to screen games on their own channel with the size of their worldwide fan base they will soon be kicking Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Citehs arse again due to their financial clout.
Its going to be a difficult bumpy path for professional football to traverse. The more I think about it, the more i think the whole house of cards will crumble.
No way I am paying for Cardiff games and sky behind closed doors. I am a fan who attends home games, I like the experience. When the game is live on the box I still go to the game even in appalling weather or if my daughter can't make it and it would be easier to sit at home.
The premier league top 6 will be landed, this gives them the opportunity to have breakaway deals. Man U maybe (relatively) shit but if they are allowed to screen games on their own channel with the size of their worldwide fan base they will soon be kicking Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Citehs arse again due to their financial clout.
Its going to be a difficult bumpy path for professional football to traverse. The more I think about it, the more i think the whole house of cards will crumble.
Re: Football could be played behind closed doors for the ent
Fri May 01, 2020 4:29 pm
Another pointless artical
Re: Football could be played behind closed doors for the ent
Fri May 01, 2020 7:08 pm
That's an arbitrary date.
How did they come up with that? Do they know for sure that there will be no vaccine or indeed a cure potentially found for this virus for at least two years?
Why just ban fans until 2022? Why not say ban them until 2025? Or 2030?
Perhaps they have top class information confirming that there will no longer be any risk on 1st August 2022 but not before - perhaps they'd like to share that information with the rest of us?
Or perhaps it's a load of bollocks.
How did they come up with that? Do they know for sure that there will be no vaccine or indeed a cure potentially found for this virus for at least two years?
Why just ban fans until 2022? Why not say ban them until 2025? Or 2030?
Perhaps they have top class information confirming that there will no longer be any risk on 1st August 2022 but not before - perhaps they'd like to share that information with the rest of us?
Or perhaps it's a load of bollocks.
Re: Football could be played behind closed doors for the ent
Sat May 02, 2020 10:06 am
Premier League given guidelines for resuming season
Laura Scott
BBC Sport News Correspondent
Neutral grounds and up to 40,000 tests for players and staff will be required if the English Premier League's plans to play the 92 outstanding games behind closed doors are pursued.
"Up to 10 stadiums" would be used to resume the 2019-20 campaign, which was halted in March because of the pandemic.
The advice came during a video conference on Friday which followed a separate meeting, hosted by culture secretary Oliver Dowden, involving medical experts from several sports organisations, government and Public Health England, about "stepping up planning" for sport's eventual return.
Clubs reiterated a commitment to resuming the season "when safe and appropriate to do so".
Laura Scott
BBC Sport News Correspondent
Neutral grounds and up to 40,000 tests for players and staff will be required if the English Premier League's plans to play the 92 outstanding games behind closed doors are pursued.
"Up to 10 stadiums" would be used to resume the 2019-20 campaign, which was halted in March because of the pandemic.
The advice came during a video conference on Friday which followed a separate meeting, hosted by culture secretary Oliver Dowden, involving medical experts from several sports organisations, government and Public Health England, about "stepping up planning" for sport's eventual return.
Clubs reiterated a commitment to resuming the season "when safe and appropriate to do so".
Re: Football could be played behind closed doors for the ent
Sat May 02, 2020 11:44 am
We may have a vacine sorted by june in the lab at oxford, according to some of the lab experts, and production in september so we could all be having a jab as a xmas present, so we could and i hope fans could be back in the stadium next year, but this is obviously best scenario, but i am sure with all the worlds best scientist's on this,we should all be getting a jab next year.
Re: Football could be played behind closed doors for the ent
Sat May 02, 2020 4:03 pm
Wonder how many league 1 and 2 clubs will be left if clubs have to play behind closed doors next season? Not many, a few championship clubs could be gone too. 
Re: Football could be played behind closed doors for the ent
Sun May 03, 2020 10:19 pm
WHU and BRIGHTON - Not up to playing on Neutral Grounds .
Re: Football could be played behind closed doors for the ent
Mon May 04, 2020 9:55 am
montyblue wrote:We may have a vacine sorted by june in the lab at oxford, according to some of the lab experts, and production in september so we could all be having a jab as a xmas present, so we could and i hope fans could be back in the stadium next year, but this is obviously best scenario, but i am sure with all the worlds best scientist's on this,we should all be getting a jab next year.
I'll drink to that mate. I've always been a glass half full man so fingers crossed
Re: Football could be played behind closed doors for the ent
Tue May 05, 2020 11:09 am
Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says England's Premier League football should return if an “ingenious way” can be found to make it safe.
Representatives from Football, Cricket and Rugby are meeting the government today to discuss strategies to restart sport.
A June resumption has been mooted by the Premier League, which was suspended on 13 March.
“It can and it should (restart),” Hunt told the BBC.
“It’s a question of whether we can find an ingenious way of doing it behind closed doors that does not risk the safety of the players or the public.”
While current health secretary Matt Hancock says he is “open” to the idea, PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said players were “not stupid” and will “put safety first” when presented with proposals next week.
Taylor added that halves of less than 45 minutes are among measures being considered to restart football.
Representatives from Football, Cricket and Rugby are meeting the government today to discuss strategies to restart sport.
A June resumption has been mooted by the Premier League, which was suspended on 13 March.
“It can and it should (restart),” Hunt told the BBC.
“It’s a question of whether we can find an ingenious way of doing it behind closed doors that does not risk the safety of the players or the public.”
While current health secretary Matt Hancock says he is “open” to the idea, PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said players were “not stupid” and will “put safety first” when presented with proposals next week.
Taylor added that halves of less than 45 minutes are among measures being considered to restart football.
Re: Football could be played behind closed doors for the ent
Wed May 06, 2020 1:22 pm
Next week could be crucial in the potential return of English football, according to two people involved in the sport.
The Premier League hopes to return on 12 June, with a vote due on Monday on various proposals, including playing at neutral grounds.
The league wants to remove home and away fixtures to avoid crowds congregating outside stadiums and it needs 14 of the 20 clubs to vote in favour for that proposal to pass.
League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan has told the BBC the season will probably be cancelled if that idea is voted down.
Meanwhile, Coventry City chief executive Dave Boddy says the "middle of next week... is the tipping point" for whether the Football League can return.
England's second to fourth tiers need to finish by 31 July and Boddy thinks if players do not start training next week that will be impossible.
The German Bundesliga is hoping to return this month - although reports in Germany now suggest the government has pushed it back to 22 May.
The Premier League hopes to return on 12 June, with a vote due on Monday on various proposals, including playing at neutral grounds.
The league wants to remove home and away fixtures to avoid crowds congregating outside stadiums and it needs 14 of the 20 clubs to vote in favour for that proposal to pass.
League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan has told the BBC the season will probably be cancelled if that idea is voted down.
Meanwhile, Coventry City chief executive Dave Boddy says the "middle of next week... is the tipping point" for whether the Football League can return.
England's second to fourth tiers need to finish by 31 July and Boddy thinks if players do not start training next week that will be impossible.
The German Bundesliga is hoping to return this month - although reports in Germany now suggest the government has pushed it back to 22 May.
Re: Football could be played behind closed doors for the ent
Fri May 08, 2020 7:51 am
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden confirmed he will have further meetings with football authorities on Thursday to look at how games could be played behind closed doors. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Dowden said: "They have not got the green light (to play matches).
"I met with the Premier League a couple of weeks ago. We've had two sessions, the first of which I chaired with the deputy chief medical officer, looking at how we could do this in a safe way.
"It is not just Premier League, it is the rest of football and indeed other sports that could potentially take place behind closed doors.
"Public health and safety will come first. If we can get a plan that works, then I would like us to be able to go ahead with it because I think it will be good for the nation, it would be good for football as a whole."
"I met with the Premier League a couple of weeks ago. We've had two sessions, the first of which I chaired with the deputy chief medical officer, looking at how we could do this in a safe way.
"It is not just Premier League, it is the rest of football and indeed other sports that could potentially take place behind closed doors.
"Public health and safety will come first. If we can get a plan that works, then I would like us to be able to go ahead with it because I think it will be good for the nation, it would be good for football as a whole."