The next two rounds of games in La Liga have been suspended as the effects of the coronavirus grow in Spain. Seven Bundesliga games will take place behind closed doors this weekend, as will all games in Ligue 1, while pretty much everything in Italy is shutdown.
This leaves England the only one of the big five leagues going ahead in front of full stadiums. Infection rates in Italy, France, Spain and Germany are significantly higher than the UK, but it seems inevitable that public attendance at sporting events in the UK will be stopped within days.
As more players become infected, it will be impossible, and hazardous to players, to continue with football matches. Uefa must accept that the Euros should be postponed, you cannot have tens of thousands travelling across the continent, then home again. This competition is a crucial earner for Uefa and national associations; it will be a commercial washout if held this year. Better on all counts to re-schedule for 2021.
Domestic competitions, as well as the Champions and Europa Leagues, should be allowed to run into June – all behind closed doors.
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st tams on 12th March 2020 12:46 pm
100% agree I have been boring my mates with that opinion all season, he’s not and never will be a centre half, he’s too soft, easily beat in the air and loses concentration. His main asset is pace over 30-40 yards.
Euro postponement was mentioned this morning on radio.
Euros cancelled, in order to try get leagues finished.
Wee Nicola makes sure the huns get a payday on Sunday.
When we beat the Huns 2-0 at Ibrox i said at the time i didnt think we would have kept a clean sheet if Ajer had been playing (was injured). I think his agent is looking after himself and wouldn’t read too much into it, most agents will be the same imo. Kris seems like a decent big guy. If he moves on however, no biggie imo.
JAMES FORREST on 12TH MARCH 2020 2:48 PM
The ban isn’t about the spread of the virus – NS says the science suggests events like Sunday do not lead to a significant increase in the spread of the disease.
Even one weekend could make a difference for all the individuals and businesses who rely on football custom for their livelihoods.
Once a ban is in place it could be weeks even months before its lifted.
I’m not sure the Huns would be in NS’s thinking, just about ever
I agree with southside
Rangers will get what they want
Tonights first leg will take place and Rangers Bumper payday will be reached. Next Thursdays game will be behind closed Doors. Advantage Rangers and no reduction in income from Gate and from UEFA monies
Sundays game will go ahead with all Football behind closed doors starting from Monday.
Now I am being a Paranoid Tim but it looks to me that National and UEFA policies are being made to suit the Huns. It looks like their influence is not only in Scotland but also in UEFA.
It beggars belief that Rangers Finances are such an important factor is decisions involving a pandemic. Is just coincedence
Sorry
“is it just a coincidence?”
Ajer was studying to be a doctor when he came here, not sure is he is now qualified, as for his unwillingness to sign a new contract sell him and get better.
Was talking about Kris Ajer yesterday. I think he has regressed and I would imagine his agent thinks similiarry.
I still think he will be a cracking big player, but maybe he needs a move.
His fee should reflect his potential, he is only 21.
HH.
!!Bada Bing!! on 12th March 2020 3:18 pm
Straws and clutching come to mind.
I don’t see problem with Ajer looking for a move, if it means we get a decent fee for him
Victor, Moussa and now Odsonne have all played fewer games for Celtic than him but all have gone or will go with our best wishes.
Not sure why he shouldn’t think it’s ok to do the same
I agree with many of the posters regarding Ajer. I’d sell him in the summer. In an ideal situation he’d stay and sign a new deal. That doesn’t appear like it’s going to happen. We are reaching that part of the contract (2 years left) where it’s time to sell as he will lose value the closer he gets to the end of his deal. That was when we sold VVD, that was when we sold Wanyama and that was when we sold Dembele.
My main concern would be where that left us in the summer. In my opinion, we’d be selling him & getting rid of Simunovic. Reducing us to Jullien, Bitton, Welsh, Hendry & Elhamed.
I think that means you would have to sign 2 new CB’s & possibly a RB. That’s what fans would want to see.
In reality, I think we will see one signing and Celtic taking up the final year of Jozo’s deal to cover the loss of Ajer.
bigbhoy on 12th March 2020 3:22 pm
Come on really? The huns run UEFA? You can’t be serious, I completely agree that they get more or less what they want domestically but you really expect UEFA to postpone a game with a few hours notice? If a player from either team was ill then of course but at this stage?
You are correct you’re being paranoid.
It’s now looking pretty much inevitable that none of the domestic or European completions are going to reach their proper conclusions, so why not just face up to reality and just call a halt now, across the board?
Carrying on in a piecemeal fashion hoping that something is going to turn up to make everything better is grossly irresponsible.
I like Ajer. I won’t bat an eyelid if he leaves and wish him well. I think we’ll get decent money for him.
I hope we spend the money on a proper centre half to play alongside Chris.
St Patrick’s, (not St Paddy’s I hasten tae add) Day parade cancelled in TO this Sunday. Junos, Canadian music awards, out in Saskatoon cancelled tae. We take it seriously over here.
I have no problem with Ajer moving on in the summer either . If however his agent’s revelation to the press at such a critical stage of the season was made with Ajer’s knowledge and consent , I would certainly have a problem with that.
TIMMY7_NOTED on 12TH MARCH 2020 3:31 PM
!!Bada Bing!! on 12th March 2020 3:18 pm
Straws and clutching come to mind.
Leagues across Europe cancelled or behind closed doors, and Sturgeon says wait till Monday? Remember Salmond approached HMRC on Oldco’s behalf.
BTW , I would be much more concerned if we were losing Jullien.
TONTINE TIM @ 3:52 PM,
It’s been an iteresting response in the UK. Behind the scenes lot’s of contingency planning but certainly a business as usual type of an attitude.
They’ll have to come in line though, if the pandemic reeks havoc and the Government has reacted fast enough.!?
On a liter note, there’s moves afoot to move Coatbridge’s St Patrick’s celebrations to the second Sunday in July..;)
Hail Hail
A ban on mass gatherings in Scotland affects far more than the 50,000 at Ibrox on Sunday
There are significant implications, the timing needs to be right, especially given that the government is being advised that mass gatherings don’t lead to a significant rise in the spread of the virus
What will happen, will happen. No point in worrying about something we can’t control.
Whole thing brings me back to 1962 and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
World was on the verge of a Nuclear War and there was real fear in the air.
I was 14 yrs of age and a fanatical Cork Hibernians Supporter,,for the first time since the Club’s Inception we were going well and I believed we were in with a genuine chance of winning the League.
My sole worry was that this bloody Nuclear war was going to stop us winning the League.
Well in the end happily there was no war but sadly Hib’s effort ran out of steam and we didn’t win the League either.
The situation is very fluid but it’s not being helped by the ad hoc response of government.
The idea that Sunday is ok to have 50,000 people in a stadium and tens of thousands pack into pubs is ok but come Monday any gathering of 500 or more is cancelled seems very arbitrary.
If this decision was based on the science then you’d imagine it would be implemented immediately and not driven by an arbitrary date and time.
Is the 500 maximum really starting on Monday?
Hot Smoked
from BBC
Gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled from next week, the Scottish government is advising.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said this was to free up emergency services, including police and ambulance crews, to deal with coronavirus.
One last big Coronavirus themed party across Scotland planned for Sunday..
Feckin halfwits.
The Onlooker
Thanks.
Despite a couple of dodgy games vs Livingston, big Jullien has been the glue that has held our defence together this season. He has been the one consistent performer of our defenders.
Ajer, hasn’t developed the way people maybe had hoped.
When Rodgers sent him away to Killie, then that first season when he came back to us, I think everyone thought we had a real top prospect on our hands.
However, the first half of this season, has only gone to prove that he is indeed an inexperienced defender.
A guy that up until the age of 18, only ever played as a midfielder or forward.
Far too often, his positioning, his defensive instincts, his reactions, are simply inadequate for a top level defender. You can some times see natural defending is alien to him.
Therefore if Brendan Rodgers is such a big fan…. £15/£16 million. Take him. And best of luck big fella.
Its about time. we restored proper balance to our backline. Therefore we need to source and sign a left footed, left centre back. Surely that would make sense.
My friends in Celtic,
Most of us aren’t scientists or medical experts. If the game is played on Sunday vast amounts of us will watch the game in the boozers.
I would suggest that the gallant 800 will have more immediate worries than CV.
Personally I hoped Celtic would have refused to handle tickets, but knowing the cash strapped huns, they would have sold them direct on a public sale.
Anyway, we are where we are and hopefully the gallant 800 @ Grayskull will don paper suits, overshoes, face masks and nitrile gloves; not because of CV, but because it’s a shithole.
HH to all.
Scott Brown having the ‘null and void’ question put to him at his presser. They’d just love it, wouldn’t they!
If they win on Sunday they will move heaven and earth to make sure the season is voided in event of a stoppage.
We must not lose on Sunday. Even the huns will look ridiculous crying foul over a league awarded if they’re 16 points behind.
An Dun
I might be wrong. But I anticipate the Euro’s being shifted to 2021.
I then would expect that domestic leagues will be extended to allow for postponements in the next 3 to 4 weeks.
timmy7_noted
Maybe I am paranoid but UEFA now employ one Hugh Dallas after he got the sack in Scotland. why allow some first legs of games to go ahead and change mid tie.
According to Sturgeon, it’s ok to have 50,000 in Ibrox on Sunday but on Monday more than 500 is unsafe and banned.
Blo Jo says no point in cancelling major sports events
before making a decision on whether to postpone games wee nicola will consult with sevco.
her decision will be based on what benefits sevco.
call me cynical but this is scotland and this odious football club contaminates and corrupts this country.
Anyone remember that moment in Jaws when the mayor is begging Brody not to close the beaches before the holiday weekend?
Sturgeon will have blood on her hands.