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The football season has been decimated by the coronavirus crisis, but discussions about the conclusion of the campaign continue to guide.
Various ideas have been put forward to conclude the Premier League season, and the league continues to discuss possible plans with its stakeholders, although the deadline for making a decision is tight.
Everton can still qualify for Europe and Liverpool is two title victories away, and both clubs are said to back plans to restart the action.
While the preference is for the season to be completed and all games to be played, there are several difficult issues to navigate and with each plan proposed there are advantages and disadvantages.
Here, we have reviewed all the options along with the positives and negatives of each approach.
Behind closed doors
The preferred choice for the Premier League, which would see the remaining 92 league games played in neutral locations and behind closed doors, with the season extended in the summer months.
Pros: No argument regarding the number of games played can help boost morale in the country.
Cons: Neutral places would likely lead to discussions, questions about the health and safety of players, coaches, and staff, criticism of the mass testing in the current environment outside of soccer.
Points per match
This method produces a final table by dividing a team’s current point count by the games played to get an average of points per game, and the goal difference is used as a deciding factor if any club has the same total.
Pros: Easy to solve, it takes effect every game that has already been played this season and the league table is not significantly changed.
Cons: The relegated teams would certainly appeal, ignoring the remaining matches on the match list.
Cancellation with current rating
The league table is frozen and the current classification is taken as the final, with the last three relegated, the European places decided and Liverpool crowned champion. It has already been used in Ligue 1 in France.
Pros: Draw a line below the season. The transfer window can continue with the current dates and the start of the next season will not be affected.
Cons: It would immediately become a legal minefield, the integrity of the competition would be questioned.
Null and void
The nuclear option, which has already been implemented in the National League and with the Dutch Eredivisie, is to declare the entire campaign null and void, erasing the records of this season, without champions or relegation.
A solution would be required to decide the representatives of European competitions in 2020/21 and it would also require the EFL to take the same approach in its campaigns.
Pros: A clean break, drawing a line below the season. The transfer window can continue with the current dates and the start of the next season will not be affected.
Cons: Tough for those who have performed well this season. It opens the door to legal action by broadcasters and sponsors, who could deny payments or demand refunds.
19 game table
This method would only take into consideration the first 19 games of the season, which would mean that each team has played against each other once and sits in an even number of games played.
Pros: Based on actual results, an even number of games were played and the same opponents faced each other.
Cons: Arguments based on home and away matches, questions about whether 19 games is a fair table.
No relegation, 22 teams next season
The current league table would become the final, with the Liverpool champions and European qualifying places to be decided. The difference is that the last three would not be relegated, with Leeds United and West Brom promoted from the Championship.
Pros: Draws a line in the current season, does not cause legal action regarding the decline.
Cons: The expanded league adds to the increase in game congestion next season, unfair to those in Championship playoff positions, it would have to be implemented throughout the EFL.
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