They're trying hard to finish
by fortune_smith (2020-04-12 15:53:05)

In reply to: Any insight on promotion and relegation  posted by SixShutouts66

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.... even if it takes until July-Aug-Sept to do so, perhaps with some or all behind closed doors, because not finishing will be a mess that is expected to spawn massive litigation.

There's talk of nullifying the season, freezing the table, using a points-per-match table or promoting without relegating. But not sure there would be a uniform approach across leagues.

Belgium called its season off earlier this month, proposing that the standings after 29 matches be the final standings. That decision is due to be ratified this week.

Late last week speculation was "hotting up" that the Scottish league would do something similar.

To my knowledge, none of the big leagues have talked about how they'll resolve a table and all the associated issues if they're not able to resume.

How about an 8 team or whatever home-home tournament?
by DakotaDomer  (2020-04-12 19:34:03)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

4 promotion teams vs 4 relegation teams
Maybe, if that’s the “least bad” solution .....
by fortune_smith  (2020-04-13 16:22:41)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

But some very significant flaws if 4-6 weeks of football can be played:

1. The English Championship, to take an example, expects three teams to get promoted;
2. The top teams will think they have every chance of securing automatic promotion, so why dilute those chances in a German-style relegation playoff?;
3. A lot of promotion-chasers outside the fourth slot will think they deserve a chance. And In a tightly-packed table, this is likely true all the way to the middle of the table even with only nine matches remaining.

Furthermore, teams toward the bottom of the Prem should have to do more than win a two-legged playoff versus a Championship side to preserve their places in the division.

It’s cleaner to extend the timing of this season, complete it and shorten next season with everybody knowing the parameters in advance than to bring this season to an arbitrary conclusion.

Promotion / relegation / European qualification make shutting down major soccer leagues far more complicated than simply nullifying an MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL season.