A number of Liverpool fans have reacted furiously to a report in The Athletic suggesting that the current Premier League season could be annulled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Reporter David Ornstein wrote that there is a “growing appetite” among top-flight clubs to scrap the 2019/20 season and replay it when it is safe to do so, believing that it is morally wrong to contemplate any possibility of football resuming due to the effects of COVID-19. He later shared a link to the article on his Twitter profile @David_Ornstein.
Increasing unease among some PL execs that resuming football even being discussed amid #coronavirus pandemic. After Brady/Barber notes of caution, chairman of another club tells @TheAthleticUK season should be replayed once safe regardless of consequences: https://t.co/0YiRGOIbu6
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) March 27, 2020
The reported shift towards cancelling the season reflects a change in mood from the prevalent one at a meeting of Premier League clubs last week, when there seemed a collective desire to resume the current season at a safer time and play it to a natural conclusion rather than simply ending it. However, that was before Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown in response to the pandemic.
The annulment of the 2019/20 Premier League would be a seismic blow to Liverpool, who lead the division by 25 points and need only six more from a possible 27 to be crowned champions for the first time since 1990. Unsurprisingly, these Reds fans on Twitter were fuming at the reported possibility of the season being voided:
Replayed. Get out of here. This season must be finished whenever that may be. What makes me laugh is those that want to bin it are the ones who stand to lose if they go down. That’s the immoral part. Also this talk of voiding to start ” a new season ” is also ludicrous.
— Paul Kent (@paulkent82) March 27, 2020
Why. Don’t. We. Resume. The. Season. When. It’s. Safe. To. Do. So. And. Scrap. The. Season. That. Hasn’t started. So. We. Can. Finish. The one. We’ve. Nearly. Finished. https://t.co/oiSdGdDHsf
— Jay (@Jay82_LFC) March 27, 2020
Why not re-started when safe to do so rather than re-set? Makes no sense. No guarantees when the next season starts or if it would be completed.
— Jonathan Champion (@dfitzgeralds) March 27, 2020
Why is starting the new season more important than finishing this one when football comes back? I have yet to see a valid reason. In my mind it’s the clubs who want it abandoned that are using the crisis to their own advantage.
— Dave Butler (@DeButleir) March 27, 2020
One of the bottom 6 no doubt.
— Sync (@SixBloodyTimes) March 27, 2020
Surely not! The Prem has already announced that this season will be completed before starting any other. Why can’t we just wait til it’s safe to play and then complete the season. Anyone asking for otherwise either doesn’t want Lpool to win or is trying to save their own club.
— Danny McShane (@DanMc1986) March 27, 2020
REPLAYED! Are they all brainless? How and why would you replay 75% of a completed season? Do they have no morals! Options are, to continue or scrap. You can’t simply scrap a season of 75% games played money invested by fans, with no outcome. Only right move is LFC Champions
— I (@ugetconsultancy) March 27, 2020
I still dont understand the benefit of binning this season then starting a brand new one over finishing this one whenever it is safe?
— Forza Reds ? (@Micks2B) March 27, 2020
Liverpool fans, are you worried that the Premier League season could be voided if the coronavirus crisis continues for several more weeks? Would an annulment be the wrong decision, given the circumstances? Comment below with your views!
