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Uefa meet as football faces biggest challenge since advent of professionalism

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Two weeks on from their initial coronavirus videoconference, Uefa, their 55 constituent national associations, the European Club Association, FIFPro (the international players’ association) and other related parties will reconvene by video tomorrow to discuss the findings from working parties set up to identify ways forward for the game during the crisis.

Two weeks is a long time in this crisis; clubs will now realise there is little chance of spectator events taking place in June.  When the sport resumes, it is likely to be behind closed doors, perhaps until the end of the year, threatening the viability of all cash-poor clubs dependent on ticket and other match day revenue.

Whatever ails the game, the crisis has a more profound impact on the health and livelihoods of the general population.  Unknown thousands will die and scores of employers will close in the retail and leisure sector alone.  In this context, a few hundred European football clubs seems irrelevant, but their viability is what Uefa will try to address tomorrow.

In a show of solidarity, players at several elite clubs in Spain, Italy and Germany have agreed to take substantial pay cuts.  These actions allow their clubs to chart a course forward, but adoption lacks uniformity.

Odious English PFA chief Gordon Taylor (75), who reportedly earns over £2m per year and faced repeated calls from Chris Sutton and others to resign, has promised to obstruct English Football League clubs attempts to defer payment of wages, never mind cut them.

What happens at the elite level will be inconsequential to the lifestyles of many, but 90% of players and their clubs do not work at the elite level.  Like the rest of us, they are staring into the unknown.  Clubs and FIFPro will try to do what they can to recommend a deal that can be uniformly rolled out, while allowing the sport to be mothballed for the duration.  This will take some creative thinking and involve getting high-value TV product on screens as soon and as often as possible, which itself opens up broadcast contracts and schedules.

There are too many layers to this mess for things to be resolved by 100 people meeting by video.  Football continues unaffected in some Uefa jurisdictions, where governments feel immune to viral realities.  Those who have agreed salary cuts will be happy for others to fret, while TV companies come to terms with the loss of content and revenue this season, and that they are likely to be the game’s only saviour going forward.

Our immediate concerns: nine-in-a-row and all that’s associated with it, are important, but goodness, football faces its biggest challenge since the advent of professionalism 150 years ago.  There will be winners and losers from what happens next.  If any club plans for the unexpected it’s Celtic.  I’m hoping our corporate strategy over the last 20 years or so leaves us in a strong position.

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  1. david17 on

    14 team League is the best idea I’ve seen, play each team home and away (26) then split and then home and away again (12) – 38 overall. It also guarantees playing all teams home and away twice.

  2. David66 on

    Think UK was 280 odd deaths yesterday, maybe someone knows true figures???

     

     

    It seems every few days it jumps drastically

     

     

    D. :(

  4. david17 on

    DAVID66 on 31ST MARCH 2020 5:50 PM

     

    Think UK was 280 odd deaths yesterday, maybe someone knows true figures???

     

     

     

    It seems every few days it jumps drastically

     

     

     

    D. :(

     

     

    ——-

     

     

    Hospital only deaths were reported up until today when home/hospice deaths were included. Hence big jump.

  5. corkcelt on

    David, If it’s just whether we are credited with this year’s League or not, it really doesn’t matter too much.

     

    There are much more important issues now,

     

    Either way we will win the next League whenever its played & our run will keep going.

  8. david17 on

    CORKCELT on 31ST MARCH 2020 5:52 PM

     

    David, If it’s just whether we are credited with this year’s League or not, it really doesn’t matter too much.

     

     

    ——

     

     

    Its not a priority just now but it does matter, to the Manager, players and supporters.

  9. corkcelt on

    David, Just saw figure of 393 on Sky News.

     

    Also saw earlier that figures might be understated, as the figures given are the total Hospital deaths, other people have died in Nursing Homes etc from the virus,

     

    Whatever the numbers, it is an extremely worrying situation.

     

    We are confined to our home here, no walks, no going to Shops, first time in my life I’m doing what I’m told.

  11. South Of Tunis on

    CORKCELT

     

     

    Yes – new cases are falling…Medical scientists really pumping up the volume on the no relaxation of the lockdown message-it will be extended and possibly made even more restrictive..STAY AT HOME !

  12. RobinBhoy on

    Shopping in Morrisons this morning was a bit surreal. No queues to get in, people very respectful of each other’s space, one person apart. Most things in stock, hand soap apart and some tinned goods.

     

     

    Social distancing set up pretty good by the supermarket.

  15. Philbhoy on

    HOT SMOKED on 31ST MARCH 2020 3:36 PM

     

    So, who do we believe? The impartial BBC or that rascal Pog?

     

     

    Before you decide, was it a BBC podcast (?) which had Archie Gemmill and Bobby Murdoch scoring our goals in the European Cup Final on the 27th of May?

     

    ………………………………………………………….

     

     

    This was a massive pisstake by the national broadcaster.

     

     

    I hope the club are all over it.

  18. David66 on

    Corkcelt – Thise figures are staggering in a sad way.

     

     

    I think you are doing the right thing.

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    D. :)

  20. THE EXILED TIM on

    I have to say many many thanks to the good folks from CQN for their support of my young fella who has been badly treated, getting ripped off when you are not expecting it, your generosity has been unbelievable, it will help him big time over this period, losing your job and not sure when you will receive anything being self employed and with three weans to feed is quite a stressful thing to go through, also CRC, it wouldn’t have happened without you.

     

    HH

  21. Lennybhoy on

    THE EXILED TIM on 31ST MARCH 2020 7:50 PM

     

    CRC contacted me today, we are going to keep donations going until Friday.

     

    I’ll post an update later, probably tomorrow.

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

    Hail Hail!

  22. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Thanks for replies, first grandchild due in a few weeks, hope to go over mid May,can’t see us out to get the weans heid….🤞🤞

  24. voguepunter on

    !!BADA BING!! on 31ST MARCH 2020 8:00 PM

     

    Thanks for replies, first grandchild due in a few weeks, hope to go over mid May,can’t see us out to get the weans heid….🤞🤞

     

     

    ——————

     

    Hope all goes well mate,hopefully you can wet weans heid as well :O)

  30. setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on

    Superbru are running a Predictor comp on “virtual” games:-

     

     

     

    “Introducing Virtual Premier League

     

    Invite friends and predict a FIFA 20-based simulation of the season

     

    Hi there,

     

    Everyone’s priority right now is the health of the global population and sport is rightly on the back burner. But with no sport, there’s a Superbru-shaped gap in our lives, so we are trying an experiment… you’re invited to take part in the first ever virtual sports tournament on Superbru: the Virtual Premier League!

     

     

    How it will work

     

    It’s a normal Superbru football predictor tournament, except:

     

     

    It will start on Tuesday 7 April at 15:00 BST with Virtual Liverpool v Virtual Norwich

     

    There will be one round per day of the original Premier League fixtures until May 14th

     

    The matches will be run as computer simulations in tournament mode on FIFA 20, using up-to-date squads and form… and we’ll even simulate a January transfer window. If you don’t know FIFA, it is strikingly accurate and will produce realistic results

     

    Our social media team will keep you up to date with form and team news

     

    We are even aiming to live stream big matches via YouTube

     

    You can set up pools and earn honours like normal

     

     

     

    What you can win

     

    We will be giving away a free year of Superbru Premium to the top player in each round, with the subscription set to start when sport resumes for real.

     

     

    Mind blown? Confused? Read more in this helpful explanatory article. “

  31. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Big Jimmy at 12.01 in the previous blog. I’m sorry for not replying earlier.

     

     

    Thank you for your kind words about my daughter.

     

     

    I hope you keep well and it was a pick me up seeing the nurse today and your health picks up soon.

     

     

    When the football returns , it would be great if our team continues to do well , keeping our spirits high.

  32. Celtic Mac on

    Paul67 et al

     

     

    I remember reading that when Big Jock was manager of Dunfermline back in the early 60s that he signed off his players during the summer so that they could er sign on. Not sure if that is 100% true of course, given the relationship between the club and the player at the time. The idea was to benefit the players, many if not most of whom had been bona fide workers, including Celtic players before they were full-time. Guess they could work or claim UB, which as wage earners they would have been entitled to. Could get up to £2500 per month under the present gov. policy, but not presumably to those on EBTs.

  40. Jobo Baldie on

    Good evening friends.

     

    Me and my 3 weans’ households have been trying to have a nightly online quiz. It started when I stole the emoji one that was linked on here around a week ago (guessing the 10 viruses!!). Anyway, its back to my turn to be quizmaster tomorrow night as quizmaster so if anyone has any links that they don’t mind me stealing then, please, fire away! Ideally something that’s more ‘the chase’ rather than ‘university challenge’ but I’ll consider anything.

     

    Stay safe.

  42. gordybhoy64 on

    BSR,

     

    dont know where he got it ,

     

    but my boss ran a before they were famous picture quiz

     

    on our group whats app a few nights ago,

     

    was quite good fun for a mixed age group.

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