Football bosses are simply sitting back and waiting for Parliament to act

Coming from a different angle, perhaps we should all look upon the current actions of the Premier League clubs like the Concert Party in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum?
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Laughter and comedy in desperate times... then again, maybe not? Another week, another meeting, while hundreds continue to lose their lives on a daily basis, the higher echelons of our national game, talk of restarts, albeit behind closed doors, in less than six weeks.

Personally for me, on the 47th anniversary of my dear old dad taking me as an excited eight-year-old to the Goldstone Ground for the first time, it’s very disappointing.

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Look at what we already know. It’s reported if the Premier League is voided, the 20 member clubs will lose up to £1billion in lost revenue and broadcasting monies having to be paid back.

The Amex StadiumThe Amex Stadium
The Amex Stadium

It’s also reported that voiding the league could end up in lengthy legal action brought on by clubs who won’t benefit from the decision, ie, Leeds and West Brom.

So on the face of it, while voiding the league season is the only sensible option, it would present potentially huge challenges for the league and their member clubs.

But after the meeting last week, Albion owner Tony Bloom was widely quoted in the media, saying it wouldn’t be fair to relegate clubs from the top flight if the season wasn’t completed.

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I’m fully aware that club chairmen, managers, players and even Love Islanders get misquoted in the press on a regular basis. I think it might be an insight as to what’s actually going beneath the service. Has common sense and reality kicked in?

Former Leeds United player Norman HunterFormer Leeds United player Norman Hunter
Former Leeds United player Norman Hunter

I think they know they won’t be able to complete the season within Uefa’s timeframe, but the threat of prolonged legal action is a frightening thought.

Although as an aside, with Covid-19 claiming the life of the legendary Norman Hunter, should Leeds United even contemplate a legal challenge if things don’t go their way?

I think the Premier League is waiting for the Government to act. If all of domestic football is voided by an emergency act of Parliament, then anyone wishing to seek recompense through the courts will have to go up against the state, and frankly in the Covid-19 situation that case will receive the relevant priority, or lack of it, it deserves.

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Then football can press the reset button and start when it’s safe to do so, and in a 100 years’ time, and children in our schools learn about the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, they will see that football and sport in general was just voided and the country concentrated on far more important issues.

I have to finish this week by paying to tribute to the legendary Norman ‘Bites Your Legs’ Hunter, who passed away from Covid-19 last week.

I had the privilege of having lunch with him and Paul Reaney in the hospitality suite at Elland Road a few years ago. He was excellent company, a real gent.

The game produced a thrilling score draw, and the afternoon was completed with Norman kindly joining me on the fans’ phone-in after the match. As a kid I was never a Leeds fan, but for some reason liked the cut of Hunter’s gib.

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His death robs a loving family of a husband, dad and grandad. Hopefully it will put the current wrangling over football in this country into perspective. Rest in Peace Norm.

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