The corona virus pandemic has thrown football globally into chaos with the unplanned disruptions in pre-planned schedules that have occured as a result of the virus. All sporting activities seem less significant right now as people’s health and avoiding contracting the virus is the most important thing, but the situation still presents unprecedented challenges to the administrators.
What happens now?
Will the present 2019-20 season resumption in April be feasible? Will the campaign be voided altogether? Many questions remain unanswered at the moment. Whatever the outcome, there would be clubs left satisfied and many others the opposite. Liverpool remains likely to be crowned the Premier League champion even if if the season is cancelled according to the Telegraph despite some decisions appearing controversial. If this happens, would the teams currently in the bottom three of the table – Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich City – be relegated to the Championship? There are no doubts as to the huge financial implications this would have on the aforementioned clubs therefore, it seems unlikely that this would happen.
The Telegraph, however, revealed that a proposal could be made which may satisfy the majority of teams. Instead of 20 clubs, the Premier League would be comprised of 22 teams next season, with the Championship’s current top two being promoted to the top-flight. Leeds United and West Brom – first and second in the Championship, respectively, at present – would subsequently become Premier League clubs. To deal with the increase in Premier League fixtures, the EFL Cup would be postponed for one year. At the end of the season, five clubs rather than three would be relegated to the Sky Bet Championship, leaving the Premier League with 20 teams again. This might sound a little far-fetched but nothing can be ruled out at unprecedented times like these and this might prove to be the only way to satisfy the majority of clubs.
On champions League qualifications, well, the Telegraph added that one suggestion would be to allow teams who qualified for this season’s tournament keep their places next term. Any additional clubs currently in qualification positions would then enter an expanded qualifying phase, resulting in third-placed Leicester City going into a qualifying round for the Champions League, with Liverpool, Manchester City – subject to the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturning their ban – Chelsea and Tottenham retaining their places for the tournament.
The enormous effect of COVID-19 on Premier league teams champions league qualifications next season
