EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

[Twodogs]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

French league isnt null and void, PSG won, teams get their European spots and so on.

Amien and Lyon are taking legal action. At the very least they will get an injunction against awarding the League to PSG for now.

I still think that European leagues will all be cancelled and no trophys will be awarded. This season will have never happened in the eyes of the law.

[Eastdog]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/01/french-ligue-1-abandoned-clubs-to-consider-appealing-decision

French Ligue 1 abandoned: Several clubs upset over league position decision

By Matthew Holroyd • last updated: 01/05/2020 - 22:18

Multiple clubs in French's top division, Ligue 1, have announced they will be appeal the decision to abandon the 2019-20 football season.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe had announced on Tuesday that major sports fixtures - including those behind closed doors - will not be permitted in the country before September.

"The 2019/20 season of professional sport, notably football, won't be able to return either," Philippe said, speaking in Parliament about the country's latest measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Thursday the French League (LFP) announced that the final standings would be based on a points-per game ratio.

The decision means that Paris Saint-Germain have been declared Ligue 1 champions for the third consecutive year, and Lorient have been crowned Ligue 2 champions and will be promoted to the top division with second-place Lens.

Will Europe's football seasons restart when coronavirus lockdowns end?
PSG said they wished to dedicate the title "to healthcare staff and all the everyday heroes on the front line".

Meanwhile Amiens and Toulouse have been relegated to Ligue 2.

But both clubs, as well as Olympique Lyonnais, have announced that they will reserve the right to appeal the decision.

Didier Quillot, the chief executive of the LFP acknowledged that clubs might appeal the ruling, but confirmed that their decision was "solid".

The French Football Federation (FFF) had already decided to put an end to all amateur football in France, as well as the national championships of National 3 and National 2.

The professional football season in France had been suspended indefinitely since March 13.

The LFP had previously raised June 17 as a potential start date, while the FFF had hoped to announce dates for both men's and women's cup finals in the near future.

But the French League did confirm their intention to begin the 2020-21 Ligue 1 and 2 seasons on the weekend of August 22-23 at the latest.


No European football for the first time in nearly 25 years

The decision by the LFP means that Lyon who were fifth a week before the last match day, will finish seventh, and out of European competition for the first time since 1996-97.

"Olympique Lyonnais reserves the right to appeal against this decision and claim damages," the club said in a statement.

"The damage for the club amounts to several tens of millions of euros."

Lyon say the French government position did not seem to to impose a prohibitive end to the football season.

The club also said that they had proposed that the French League study an "alternative solution" to allow the competition to be completed in line with UEFA "sporting merit" proposals, such as play-offs.

Lyon were still competing in the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League when play was halted on April 1.

Meanwhile, Lyon were leading the Division 1 Féminine when play was suspended, but no decision has been announced that the title will be awarded


"We reserve the right to go further so that justice passes"

In a statement on Friday, Amiens said the LFP decision had "extremely heavy consequences" for everyone connected with their club.

Club President Bernard Joannin expressed his disappointment and anger at the announcement in a Facebook live broadcast on Thursday.

"It's an injustice because Amiens SC were unable to defend their continued presence in Ligue 1 all the way out on the pitch," said Joannin.

Six of Amiens' final 10 matches were against teams placed 11th or lower in Ligue 1.

"In the return matches, we played the strongest teams ... and our rivals didn't play them, so there is a relative form of injustice in this decision - sports equity is not respected," said Joannin.

"I'm going to fight, with all my teams, to assert our rights," the club president added.

"We will wait for the minutes of this Board of Directors and the General Assembly and we reserve the right to go further."

Meanwhile, Toulouse President Olivier Sadran has also reportedly sent a letter to the French League protesting the decision.

"I would like to strongly insist here on my position: any decision of relegation based on the provisional classification at the end of the 27th or 28th day ... would be unfair, inequitable and unfounded in law," said Sadran, according to LesViolets.com.

"Any unilateral decision to demote would constitute a sanction not provided for in the applicable regulations," Sadran continued, adding that Toulouse would challenge the decision before a legal court.

A number of other clubs would also face significant detriments due to the decision.

Strasbourg had played one game fewer than most other teams in Ligue 1, and could theoretically have finished in sixth place to qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

Meanwhile Lille would miss on the lucrative UEFA Champions League by just one point, and in Ligue 2, Ajaccio were just a solitary point away from promotion to Ligue 2.

A precedent for other major European leagues?

Ligue 1 became the third major European competition to make an announcement on abandoning the 2019-20 football season, after the Dutch Eredivisie and the Belgian Pro League.

UEFA have acknowledged that domestic league seasons across Europe may not be finished for "legitimate reasons" due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clubs have therefore been urged to "explore all possible options" to finish domestic seasons and use "a different format" if needed.

UEFA say that national associations would need to select clubs to qualify for Europe in 2020-21, if seasons could not be concluded, but reserve the right to "refuse or evaluate" selected teams if necessary.

The announcement by the French League means that Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille and Rennes would be in line for the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League, while Nice and Reims would advance to the UEFA Europa League.

The LFP has a deadline of May 25 to confirm this to UEFA, the same day when European leagues will have to decide on resuming or concluding their seasons.

UEFA had also previously set a deadline of August 2 for domestic competitions in Europe to be completed.

Other countries, including Germany and Portugal, have expressed desires to resume the football season in May, subject to health recommendations.

Dutch top flight football was abandoned on April 24 with no promotion, relegation or title awarded.

Meanwhile, clubs in the Belgian Pro League decided to postpone a decision to vote on abandoning the season until May 4.

[Eastdog]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/premier-league-clubs-told-season-will-finish-in-neutral-venues-20200502-p54p7p.html

Premier League clubs told season will finish in neutral venues
May 2, 2020 — 12.11pm

London: English Premier League clubs have been told the remaining matches of the 2019-20 season will have to be played at neutral venues.

The clubs were presented with the league's 'Project Restart' plans at a meeting on Friday, and while a statement was issued reconfirming the clubs' commitment to finishing the season, it is understood there is no possibility that it can now finish on a home-and-away basis for safety reasons.

The restart plans were understood to have been well received, but there remains opposition on competition and integrity grounds about the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues.

Clubs are expected to vote on the key principles of 'Project Restart' some time after May 7, when the UK Government must review the current lockdown.

It is understood there were still no discussions around declaring the season null and void, nor curtailing it, with France and Holland having been forced to end their competitions because of government orders.

Return-to-training protocols, which include wearing face masks or snoods, were presented to clubs. Teams will consult with playing and management staff on the proposals, which are still subject to approval.

It is understood the league is still working towards a best-case scenario of play being able to resume from the week beginning June 8.

A statement from the Premier League on Friday afternoon read: "The league and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers. "

"The league welcomed the creation of the government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning."

The statement added: "The clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019-20 season, maintaining integrity of the competition and welcomed the government's support."

[Twodogs]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

Didier Quillot, the chief executive of the LFP acknowledged that clubs might appeal the ruling, but confirmed that their decision was "solid".

Didier would be well advised to keep his opinion about whether the decision is "solid" or not to himself or he might find his name gets added to the indictment and somebody else ends up owning his house and car and any other valuables that can be picked up and taken away.

[chef]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

Amien and Lyon are taking legal action. At the very least they will get an injunction against awarding the League to PSG for now.

I still think that European leagues will all be cancelled and no trophys will be awarded. This season will have never happened in the eyes of the law.

The courts won't stop PSG winning the league or UCL places or relegation. It's in Ligue 1 rules that if a season has to be stopped then table placings at that time determine everything. Pretty sure they are the only league with that official rule.

The EPL won't finish null and void either. I think they'll go with points per game in the end.

[comrade]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

Pretty obvious that some on here are secretly praying that Liverpool get stiffed. I'm not an EPL fan at all so I don't get the hostility...would it be like GWS or Essendon winning the flag or something?

[chef]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

Pretty obvious that some on here are secretly praying that Liverpool get stiffed. I'm not an EPL fan at all so I don't get the hostility...would it be like GWS or Essendon winning the flag or something?

Im one who doesn't care if they win, if it's not Chelsea then its really all the same whether it's United/City/Pool etc. Plus you cant help but admire what a great team Klopp is leading and what an amazing season they were having.

It's more like Richmond IMO.

[Twodogs]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

Pretty obvious that some on here are secretly praying that Liverpool get stiffed. I'm not an EPL fan at all so I don't get the hostility...would it be like GWS or Essendon winning the flag or something?

I went through their insufferable arrogance in the '80s, that's why I hate them. Chef's analogy with Richmond is spot on because they lived off their reflected glory for a couple of decades before coming good again.

And they had blokes playing for them like Bruce Grobeller who were taking bribes.*


And then there is this;

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heysel_Stadium_disaster

Liverpool's actions got all the English banned from European competition. Liverpol are nothing but scum and I for one won't be lionising their win if they get it.


He may have been found not guilty but the judge's award to him after his civil case pretty much sums him up:


The tort of defamation protects those whose reputations have been unlawfully injured. It affords little or no protection to those who have, or deserve to have, no reputation deserving of legal protection. Until 9 November 1994 when the newspaper published its first articles about him, the appellant's public reputation was unblemished. But he had in fact acted in a way in which no decent or honest footballer would act and in a way which could, if not exposed and stamped on, undermine the integrity of a game which earns the loyalty and support of millions.

His Honour assessed the damage to Bruce's reputation and awarded him the grand total of one (1) pound.

[The Pie Man]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

'Nothing but scum' Twodogs? Probably best I skip this part of the site from now on.

[Twodogs]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

'Nothing but scum' Twodogs? Probably best I skip this part of the site from now on.

Yep. I stand by my opinion and I'm entitled to it. You are free to disagree, what's so good about them?

If Richmond supporters went on a rampage and killed opposition supporters would you be lionizing them? Liverpool had my club banned from European competition and we did nothing wrong.

Although I will say that Liverpool were harshly dealt with after Hillsborough and the South Yorkshire police behaved disgracefully on the day and for years after. The people of Liverpool have every right to be angry with the Sun and the SYPF.

[Twodogs]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

BTW speaking of Liverpool does anyone know what's happened to Rooner? He hasn't been online since February.

[Eastdog]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

Bundesliga in Germany starts up again this weekend with no crowds.

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-germany-to-become-first-major-football-league-in-europe-to-swing-back-into-action-11989186

Coronavirus: Germany to become first major football league in Europe to swing back into action

Germany will become the first major league in Europe to resume play this weekend but behind closed doors.

SkyNews Martha Kelner, Sports Correspondent.
Martha Kelner
Sports correspondent @marthakelner
Saturday 16 May 2020 04:20, UK

Life is returning to some kind of normal in Dortmund. In the state of North-Rhine Westphalia, lockdown was eased further on Friday allowing cafes, restaurants and bars with outside seating to reopen.

In the main market square, groups of friends gather outside the traditional German beer halls, drinking and eating. Inside shops and on public transport people wear compulsory masks but outside many pull them down around their necks.

But perhaps the most radical move yet in the lockdown lifting is the return of professional football.

This weekend the Bundesliga becomes the first major European football league to swing back into action, having last played on 11 March.

In Dortmund the whole city seemingly follows the football team, the walls and windows of the bars and pubs adorned with the yellow and black the side wears.

On Saturday, the famous Westfalenstadion - renamed Signal Iduna Park - hosts one of the biggest games in German football between Borussia Dortmund and bitter local rivals Schalke, based in Gelsenkirchen, just 18 miles away.

The Revierderby has been played 179 times before but never like this.

The teams have been isolated for seven days, staying in hotels away from their families and tested regularly for COVID-19, existing in a bio-bubble in order to ensure football can return with the minimum possible risk to its participants.

As with matches across Germany, there will be no fans permitted inside the stadium and the streets surrounding will be cordoned off by police.

Germany will become the first major league in Europe to resume play this weekend but behind closed doors.
Image:
The lockdown in North-Rhine Westphalia has been eased
In other states across the country, teams have been warned that if fans gather outside the stadium, the match will be immediately abandoned.

In German they call them Geisterspielen - or ghost games - and soon they will be a norm across Europe.

For a team as fiercely supported as Dortmund, the prospect of having no fans inside the 80,000-seater stadium is utterly alien.

"It's strange and unfamiliar, it makes your heart bleed," their sporting director Michael Zorc said.

Sky News


Football clubs making their extra time count
Germany has the highest average attendance figures for football in Europe, usually all the Bundesliga stadiums would be close to full.

But for at least the next few weeks they will be the focus of attention around the world, acting as a kind of guinea pig, as other countries, including England take the first tentative steps to lockdown easing.

On Monday, Premier League clubs are expected to vote on whether to return to return to non-contact training and executives will be watching and assessing the success, or otherwise, of the Bundesliga experiment.

"We got calls and emails from big clubs in Spain and England, and I know they really hope that we manage this situation so that other leagues can restart as well," Schalke sporting director Jochen Schneider said.

"We know how important it is to restart and finish the season as well. We all agree this situation will not change that much by August, September, October, so if we are not able to play now, why will we be given the green light to play in September, October, November."

Gary Neville is not convinced that football should return yet


Neville not convinced over football's return
The Deutsche Fussbal Liga's chief executive, Christian Seifert, says this weekend's fixtures are about "earning the right" to do it again.

There have already been hiccups, the most headlong-grabbing belonging to Ausburg coach Heiko Herrlich who will miss the game against Wolfsburg after reportedly breaking quarantine rules by leaving the designated team hotel to buy toothpaste and skin cream.

One of the major hurdles the Premier League has to clear in order to return is satisfying players that it is the right time to return the professional game. The Championship season also hangs in the balance.

Middlesbrough player Adam Clayton has personal experience of the devastating effects of coronavirus. His father, Steve, spent 51 days in the intensive care unit at North Manchester General Hospital but has now been released.

Clayton said he was looking forward to being reunited with his dad. "We're not usually the hugging type but I just know we'll have a big hug when he gets home and it's ok to do so."

Clayton, who used to play for Leeds and Huddersfield, said he was conflicted on football's possible return.

"It's just got to be safe. I've seen the damage it can do first-hand to families and a family member in particular... I'd be hesitant about wanting to put someone else in that situation.

"But on the flip side, I'm a football player, I want to play the game and finish the season."

[Eastdog]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/premier-league-gets-green-light-to-resume-in-june-20200515-p54t89.html

Premier League gets green light to resume in June
May 15, 2020 — 7.45am

London: The English Premier League's plans to resume the season in June was given a major boost after the British government said it was "opening the door" for the game to return in June when "safe to do so".

Secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, Oliver Dowden, said a "positive meeting" with football authorities - which included the Premier League, the English Football League and the Football Association - to "progress plans" for football to resume.

"We all agreed that we will only go ahead if it is safe to do so and the health and welfare of players, coaches and staff comes first," Dowden said in a statement.

"The government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June. This should include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game's resumption supports the wider football family."

While the government has given the go-ahead, Dowden said it was up to football authorities to finalise the details of how they would proceed, with the government offering guidance.

"There is combined goodwill to achieve this for their fans, the football community and the nation as a whole," Dowden added.

But Brighton coach Graham Potter - whose squad includes Socceroos stars Aaron Mooy and goalkeeper Mat Ryan - has some reservations about a possible return to training next week.

"There are concerns, of course, because we've come out of lockdown, the situation isn't totally resolved," Potter said..

"We're human beings like everybody else, we need that clarity if we can."

Meanwhile, Premier League players whose contracts expire on June 30 will be allowed to sign short-term extensions until the season ends, chief executive Richard Masters said on Thursday.

The EPL said clubs and players will have until June 23 to mutually agree contract extensions.

"What we decided today is to ensure as far as possible that clubs complete the season with the same squad they had available prior to the suspension of the campaign," Masters said in a statement.

"Players can extend their contracts beyond June 30 until the end of the season, but it must be agreed by both parties."

Reuters

[Bornadog]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

[chef]

Re: EPL/UEFA Transfer Rumors/Updates/Announcements

He'll go to Pool.