The thing is though, there will be legal issues regardless of what happens. An equal number of teams will miss out on promotions and be relegated. Even if legalities were an important priority to the decision makers, which it cant be with health involved, then its a flawed reason anyway. You make a good point about the Champions League. It makes sense to skip a season of European competition barring a drastic and quite frankly unrealistic drop right across Europe. That then ties in nicely with the problem with not finishing the season in terms of continental competition.

If you are putting a desire to have promotions and relegations, an ill thought out desire to protect the future of football clubs or even the again flawed logic to prevent legal issues, then subconciously you are not putting health and safety first. Why does their HAVE to be promotion and relegation? There doesnt, end of. Is that ideal? Obviously not. Is it fair? No, but no way possible to complete a season is going to be fair now, thats something you are not grasping. I am not 100% sure if null and void is a possibility. Firstly, I am sure that the relevant men in suits will try desperately to cobble something together even if it is putting peoples health at risk and a heavily flawed and thus system. But with the potential of players testing positive or nor fully co-operating with the proposals, just because the men in suits want it financially, I am skeptical about how smoothly it will go. Lower league clubs are important yes. But my point is that it seems only the Premier League and maybe Championship will be potentially tried to complete anyway so the current proposals do not make a difference to the futures of lower league clubs so your point on that is illogical. Theres only one question that needs asking. Is the current death toll low enough to consider rushing through the season with time already of the essence? The answer is definitely not. All of your quite frankly flawed, illogical and ignorant points about financial and legal issues are irrelevant once you get a no on that.

I dont think anyone doubts the fact that he had talent but conversly I think that he is overrated simply because he came from Barcelona and of course had the ability for occasional brilliance. He did a few things that were undoubtedly brilliant but didnt do enough to justify a place every week especially in a free role. When he scored it was usually a great goal but he would go 7 or 8 games doing absolutely nothing and whilst that sort of player will not necessarily be defensively the best he could be a particular liability at times. Im not sure he was as integral in other teams defensive tactics as you imply either. Looking from afar quickly at his career since, he has been at a decent level but again has never had a particularly impressive season in front of goal. Different player but Rhodes played under different managers and his output was consistently brilliant.

It doesnt have to be as black and white as that. The numbers are still far too high to risk finishing THIS season, and besides, the clubs most at risk would be clubs further down the pyramid where the Leagues will not resume anyway. The debate is about finishing this season, with bollocks like points per game brought in making things all inconsistent and various things affecting the scepticism anyway. But ultimately, the only priority is health and there are still too many deaths each day to justify rushing through the season. Null and void, then start from 20/21. Rather than rush through a quarter of a season whilst the numbers of deaths are still so high and the risk is still so high. Wait a couple of months when hopefully the numbers will have come down significantly. Where players are potentially going to be much less afraid. (Todd Cantwell, Sergio Aguero, Tyrone Mings and Danny Rose have all publically expressed doubts recently) With Premier League players (as well as Bundesliga 2, Serie A and La Liga players which for me all should also not finish their season) its just not feasible unless money is more important than health. Logistically, the side of it like legalities and financial which are far secondary to health and safety, it also is much easier. Teams dont have a conflict of interest in terms of their current league positions, its a level playing field. Plain and simple, health before business. That is clearly not a motto you abide by.

I would agree that there may have to be some sort of compromise in terms of wages. Maybe an option whereby their wage will be paid in full if they play and only receive a certain % if they would not like to risk it. In terms of gate receipts, they wont be coming in regardless so it may actually be financially beneficial for clubs if players do not play if that is the case dependant on the level of the cut. The main part amidst all this though is that surely the integrity is massively compromised even further if players quite understandably can choose whether they would like to play or not. It is ok the PM saying that football can go ahead, but that is the tip of the iceberg really. You have player welfare and co-operation, the morality of taking up so many tests even if privately funded, and the impact upon any positive test results which surely are inevitable and the potential cancellations that will follow. Just seems like too many hurdles to overcome to me. As you say regarding your comparison to people in warehouses, something which you do wonder as to whether it should have continued during the lockdown prior to yesterdays incredibly flawed speech from the PM, there is no direct comparison in terms of ability to maintain social distancing. Also, with certain procedures put into place, these other businesses can feasibly continue, whereas regardless of the decision in terms of football, a major aspect of potential revenue will be off the cards for a long while yet.

You have to appreciate that the wealth of footballers doesnt change the fact that they are people just like anyone else and are entitled like anyone else to have fears and concerns about the health, safety and wellbeing of themselves and their families. Ultimately you mention ordinary people having to work as normal, it has obviously not been as normal and they have been working because they are considered to be key workers.

It was always inevitable that some players would test positive. Already a game called off in Bundesliga 2 and surely some serious jeapordy as to whether the leagues can restart.

With a new season you have essentially a blank canvas and a level playing field. Aswell as this there is also the potential for consistency in terms of not just completing certain leagues, and of course in terms of advantages regarding fixtures etc, they havent even been drawn yet. The main driving force behind what course of action is best to take in terms of the 19/20 season will not be player welfare, health and safety or even the fairest way, it will be the way that benefits each individual club in terms of their current position. If a team is 24th, they would want to null and void the season. Take Liverpool, Leeds or West Brom, they would surely want to finish the season or even award it on PPG or similar. The team third in League 1 would certainly be happy with the proposal to only finish the Premiership and Championship, whereas 4th, 5th and 6th would be dead against it. There is also the additional issue of time in terms of trying to complete the 19/20 season quickly considering we would have had our last game at Luton last Sunday. And obviously the fact that next season can allow a couple of months to constantly monitor the situation without the same time pressure. It may well be that the whole of next season has to be behind closed doors to maintain integrity, but surely there would also be more scope for an agreement in terms of a willingness to open the doors to stadiums as soon as is possible in terms of health and safety PRIOR to fixtures being arranged. There are also various other issues that may cause further unfairness and lack of integrity that have been suggested or may be compromised, potential for VAR to be impossible, potential need for extra subs etc.

Another issue of potentially losing fairness and sporting integrity is a potential lack of VAR. If a decision goes against someone that would have been amended and corrected by VAR it is not fair. You cant have it for part but not all of a season.

Again potential legal issues are not the primary concern but the teams that go down or that dont get promoted will im sure suggest that it wasnt fair and that the integrity wasnt maintained playing behind closed doors at neutral stadiums and likewise the teams in 4th 5th and 6th in League 1 who are not promoted even though they occupied play off places and were in just as good as position as 3rd will I am sure issue legal proceedings. To think that finishing the season (well just the 2 top leagues) will remove any legal implications is naive and foolish. Playing behind closed doors especially if any players are unable to play due to having the virus or are unwilling to play will cause problems. NEITHER DECISION WILL BE TOTALLY FAIR! Another potential legal issue. You get more than the usual 3 subs. What happens if a 4th sub comes on and scores a winner? Is that fair? In your head, if the men in suits decide that the football will go ahead then it is all good to go no questions asked. With the potential for players to test positive and be unavailable or simply refuse to play that isnt the case. You keep using the words systems and procedures as if that is all that is needed, and as if they will 100% eliminate the risk within a contact sport and also ensure that everyone will be willing to play. This line about boosting the nations morale is a load of bollocks too. Footballers are not robots exempt from the virus or able to be wheeled out at the governments request to risk themselves and their families without having their own say.

My stance is very much that health should come before legal issues. But you dont seem to be able to grasp that there will be legal consequences NO MATTER HOW THE SEASON IS FINISHED/NOT FINISHED. Brighton are a good example, say they finish the season behind closed doors, and Brighton go down, they have more "home" games left and have publically stated that they feel that "sporting integrity" will have been compromised. Both finishing the season and not finishing the season will bring with it teams that feel cheated, legal proceedings and sporting integrity compromised, so such matters shouldnt be considered. Is it necessarily fair to put teams in Europe based on last season? No. But it is it fair to have teams promoted based on their season so far, which is not completed from League 1? Again, no. BOTH null and voiding AND finishing the season has a series of negative consequences, potential legal issues and neither maintain sporting integrity. To use that as a reason either way is not a credible reason. Your last paragraph makes little sense. Surely if it goes well in Germany, it can work in Italy? Even though 3 players in the same team have the virus! I personally believe that your understandable desperation to watch some football is making you only see issues in the prospect of nulling and voiding the season, even when there are very similar issues that are thrown up if you do complete the season behind closed doors. And you are under-appreciating the issue of player safety and of player willingness and co-operation by prioritising your one sided points regarding legal and financial issues above them.

I dont understand this focus on potential legal cases. If the season is finished behind closed doors, there will be legal cases. If the season is declared null and void, there will be legal cases. Whoever misses out will enforce legal proceedings. It shouldnt be an issue anyway, the legalities are not a reason to base a decision on in such a situation. You cannot maintain any sort of integrity by finishing the top league or top 2 leagues, but having a situation where some teams are relegated having played a full season and replaced by teams who havent been able to get promoted justifiably. Absolutely farcical. If its null and voided across the board then at least theres consistency. Essentially the 2019/2020 season is wiped from the record books, there is no need to rush teams to finish half arsed seasons, with potentially reluctant or unwilling players risking their health imminently, the season re starts after all clubs have had discussions over the summer regarding mutually agreed terms in regards to a potentially partially behind closed doors season. The leagues in which teams are in and continental qualification just is based on last season. Not ideal, but no way is ideal. Also, with games behind closed doors assuming the season is to be finished, income is massively restricted. The primary expense to a football club is player wages, which at the moment are reduced. Surely they would revert back to 100% if they were playing games again? I see that Fiorentina has had 6 new cases including 3 players and Torino also have a new one. This sort of thing will surely not be a one off.

My point is that I don't believe that any sort of plan or structure can prevent the high risk of the virus being spread playing a contact sport. I also believe that a predictable and understandable less than 100% willingness on the players behalf will further jeopardise the integrity and potentially stop any plans coming to fruition.

The clubs cant make players play against their will, its easy for some blokes in suits whether at the FA or in government to discuss it and allow it when its not them playing. If a decent enough amount of players dont want to, and if its true that players from 9 of 20 teams have shown reservations, then quite simply how can it go on?

You can never escape the fact that they will be playing a contact sport and are at risk of contracting the virus, regardless of precautions, safeguards and discussions theres only so much you can do. If players are unwilling which I can totally understand then it shouldnt and wont go ahead.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/11566057/project-restart-nine-clubs-players-opt-out-coronavirus/amp/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=sunsporttwitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&__twitter_impression=true Surely it cant go ahead.

Bringing in minor measures seem fairly pointless when you consider that they are playing a contact sport.

But even if the German government has given their approval, there are so many questions to be answered as Blue blood mentions here, and things that could crop up (quite likely) such as players contracting the virus before the first game, what rules are in place ie does one player testing positive cause a cancellation, or do a certain number have to get it, its just a minefield. Players from the position of a very limited training period after a break, playing in masks in an empty stadium, lets say one of the players in the league as a minimum contracts the virus too between now and the season, I dont see how both the competitve edge and as Blue blood mentions the sporting integrity can be maintained, players knowing they are at risk of catching the virus and taking it home putting their family in danger. Another thing that I am not sure that has been considered is the opinions of the players. In England quite rightly a lot of media focus has turned to the welfare of the players with silly ideas like moving to Australia to play, shortening halves etc, there is no way that I can accept that every single player either here or in Germany is 100% happy and content to return to playing so soon. You mention the Championship chaddy, youve still the same problem regarding relegation to and promotion from League 1, makes no sense. I miss being able to watch and play football and would love to see it as soon as possible but I just cannot fathom how considering its nature and the nature of the virus, how its return can be considered enough of a priority to overcome the risks and the issues that it brings up.

I remain unconvinced that the German league will go ahead as planned, would a player testing positive cause that fixture or indeed the whole league to be called off? Are the players 100% willing to co-operate and play, presuming that many are fearful for their health? I appreciate that Germany is a totally different country that seems to have controlled things better than here for example but I am dubious at the moment. And if it does go ahead, in front of empty stadiums presumably with masks on and with an element of fear, surely the competitive edge will be somewhat lost. We will see.

Ultimately this question should be well down the list of priorities but its a fair one. If the season is null and void it essentially doesnt exist, no promotions, no relegations, start next season with the same teams in the same divisions. Its unfortunate, but its the only way, in terms of health, safety and even logistically. Going to Australia for example, you have the feelings of the players as you are banking on 100% co-operation, you are assuming that there is 0% risk in Australia, and even if that got finished there, you wouldnt be able to do the Championship too so it wouldnt resolve promotion/relegation. The last day of our season would have been yesterday, to put into context of the logistical nightmare that would ensue even if it was safe now. Legal reasons are NOT a reason to make a certain decision, as not only are they certainly down the list in terms of importance, but they are unavoidable however the season is ended/not ended. An equal amount of teams will feel hard done by no matter what. The FA should show some leadership and null and void the season now. You have teams coming in doing half arsed training sessions knowing full well that the date of the supposed restart is not feasible, but potentially increasing the risk. I think Mowbray said as much yesterday. That way, they can still stay somewhat in shape individually from home without increasing any risk, and there is a good couple of months whereby no further decision has to be rushed, and without the desperation to finish the 19/20 season hanging over like a cloud. The prize money can be agreed, ideally in a way whereby the Premier League money can trickle down effectively to keep lower clubs afloat, and distributed as soon as possible, another thing which will be delayed by trying to finish the season. The issue obviously wont go away before the start of next season, but we dont know the exact date when fans can attend games, even assuming that it will be safe before the end of next season. There is obviously plenty of time hopefully for clubs to come to an agreement whereby before the fixtures are arranged, games will be played behind closed doors until (and if) its safe to allow fans in. It is not essential but that would hopefully remove any legal ramifications from teams feeling they are disadvantaged, whilst not increasing the amount of time that supporters can not attend, and of course the financial issues that would be caused. I do appreciate and empathise with your desperation to get the football back but it just doesnt seem possible any time soon, and some clarity and a firm and immediate decision to null and void the season would be a big step in the right direction.

There will be legal ramifications no matter which route they go down. There is also the logistical issues of trying to squeeze in the rest of the season in that I think would already be over now before starting and preparing for the next season. There has to be an element of joined up thinking too, it makes little sense for the Premier League to finish abroad, but even if that is possible, which for many reasons seems difficult, the EFL is very unlikely to finish. So what happens with relegation? Opening an unnecessary can of worms. Divisions with varying numbers of teams are a crazy idea, and if there can be no relegation then there is little point in finishing it anyway. The clubs whose financial sustainability may be in doubt are obviously those further down the pyramid than the Premier League. Even if the Premier League can be finished in god knows which area of the world, if that can be done safely, which seems impossible to me, all 3 EFL Leagues surely cant, so the point about various incomes eg ifollow is moot. Plus would people pay for ifollow subscriptions for a few games that potentially they had already paid for with a season ticket, and would the income for them be anything but minimal? I doubt it. I personally think that the current season should be immediately declared null and void across the English Leagues, prize money etc can then be distributed. The focus can then be on next season, so theres an element of downtime now, and of course plenty of time before we need to decide what will become of next season. I think it would be a financially driven selfish lust for entertainment to start squeezing in games like people are trying to propose, totally against the safety of all involved, and Every reason that supports trying to finish the season has a stronger counterargument. The fanciful idea that it will bring the country together and boost morale is naive, indeed it would just cause an increased risk of unnecessary gatherings, either with people not within their households or even at stadiums. Maybe putting it on free to air TV would reduce that risk, but that would mean the TV Companies will still kick up a fuss. Any suggestion that legal reasons should push the idea to finish the season are equally flimsy because regardless of what is decided, there will be legal ramifications either way and these simply cannot be avoided, nor can they be prioritised anyway over public safety. I see no reason to finish the leagues. Its unfortunate but its an unprecedented situation. Would the players be willing to uproot for a couple of months to do this radical idea, has that been considered? I suspect the novelty of having football to watch at all, which we are all eager to watch, would wane somewhat considering that no matter what happens during the season, no one will be able to go and see it.

There will be legal issues regardless of how it is settled. If its null and void, those at the top of, in the promotion places or outside the relegation places in their relevant league will probably create legal cases. If it is done on sporting merit that would be a legal minefield. Conversely if the season is finished behind closed doors, teams will argue about advantages and disadvantages, for example Brighton have said that they dont think its fair because they lose home advantage from their surplus of remaining home games. There is no perfect solution nor any way of avoiding potential legal cases due to the current situation. It certainly isnt black and white to potentially put people at risk (footballers, other parties involved and their respective families) and also use up previous, finite resources. Unless I am missing something I dont see how playing football behind closed doors would prevent clubs from financial ruin. Agreeing this as soon as possible would allow an agreement to be put in place regarding distribution of prize money, solidarity payments etc. Also, if they play games again surely full wages will need to be paid? The morale argument is fairly flimsy too. Many people wont be affected because they have no interest in football so this idealistic scenario in which the nation is glued to TVs is unrealistic. Theres also the timebomb of fans congregating, especially outside stadiums which will happen. Will Liverpool fans all peacefully watch from home or will the minority of idiots be desperate to party at the stadium following finally winning a League title? There is also the issue of player welfare. What if players refuse to risk their own health and that of their families for the sake of playing arbitary games in front of no one? Do you think you will be glued to matches on TV in front of no fans or do you think you would lose interest and place less importance to those games?

I think everything especially in the Football League points to finishing the season being unrealistic and I think that would be the correct decision. The amount of tests and other resources needed, the risk of supporters congregating etc make it far too big of a risk. I also think the Premier League should follow the same protocol rather than pie in the sky ideas such as finishing the season off in a different continent. And no bollocks about having extra teams in leagues next season or awarding things on "sporting merit" just call it null and void now distribute the prize money etc and then theres a bit of clarity. I think it is difficult to announce anything at the moment because the situation is so fluid and we dont have any real idea when it could be safe and realistic especially to allow fans back in again. I have written off fans being able to attend games until at least 2021 but even then something I hadnt factored in was the potential legal and logistical nightmare of opening the doors half way through and teams feeling disadvantaged by that. That would be dissapointing because this season I can understand but the fixtures for next season havent even been drawn yet and you wouldnt want football to be unavailable to fans once the announcement has been made that it is safe for fans to attend again. But it looks like we wont be attending games until August 2021. Initially the prospect of any football even behind closed doors was an exciting prospect because its better than nothing but I think i am now of a mindset where I am unsure if I would be particularly interested in football behind closed doors, perhaps partly due to a realisaton of its importance or lack of in the grand scheme of things at the moment.