Some Liverpool fans have called for the English football authorities to follow the lead of their Belgian counterparts, with Club Brugge set to be declared champions of their league.
As reported by Belgian news outlet HLN and noted by Reds supporter @DaveOCKOP, the country’s top-flight leaders are set to be named as 2019/20 league champions, with the competition almost certain to be discontinued due to the coronavirus pandemic. One beneficiary of that seemingly impending decision would be Simon Mignolet, the goalkeeper who left Liverpool for Brugge eight months ago.
The Belgian Premier League has proposed to conclude their season. Club Brugge will be crowned Champions, no teams relegated. Two teams promoted. Simon Mignolet will be a league champion. (@HLN_BE)
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) April 2, 2020
While the decision must still be ratified by a meeting of Belgium’s professional clubs on 15 April, it seems near-certain to be approved (as per HLN). By contrast, the outcome of the 2019/20 Premier League, in which Liverpool are 25 points clear at the top and just two wins away from being crowned champions, remains unknown.
Two weeks ago, a joint-statement from the Premier League, EFL and FA indicated a desire among key stakeholders to resume the English season and play it out to its conclusion rather than stopping it at its current point. Should the campaign be declared null and void, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has indicated that the Reds would not be declared champions just because they are the current leaders.
With the fate of a 30-year title drought hanging in the balance, these Liverpool fans on Twitter hope that the Premier League decision-makers may take a leaf out of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League’s book:
Fair outcome. Premier league needs to follow suit
— RK (@rcklfc33) April 2, 2020
This is exactly what needs to be done in EPL as well. Liverpool should be crowned champions as they are clear winners and 18, 19 and 20 get a second life for 20-21 season. That’s what sportsmanship is about.
— Shantanu (@goreshan) April 2, 2020
This would be happening in the Premierleague if it came to it, no one at all truely believes Liverpool won’t get 6 more points. Esp with good amount of home games left.
— Charlie (@MrCharlieGill) April 2, 2020
Exactly. We’ve dropped 5pts in 29 games (82 out of 87). To suggest we then wouldnt get a further 6 from 27 and City wins 9 or 10 on the spin would be ridiculous
— Jimmy Goulding (@JimtotheG) April 2, 2020
Give it us now and we’ll give everyone a 6 point head start next season
— Board beyond belief (@iza303) April 2, 2020
I said i wouldnt…….but I’d probably take that now, myself.
Big congratulations to @SMignolet !! Well done.????
— Scouser_Les_LFC (@Scouser_Les_LFC) April 2, 2020
Liverpool fans, do you want the Premier League to award the Reds the title like the Belgian authorities are set to do with Club Brugge or would you prefer to win it on the field of play? Join in the discussion by commenting below!
