RateTheRef

The Sun - reliable as always - reports that those of 70 years and over may be banned from PL games to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Oh ****, if only I had been born six months later. And where does that leave Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park? Hopefully, the ban will not extend to L2 as  Gresty Road will end up with few spectators as Crewe push for promotion     

Obviously much more important implications than football but interesting to see how the authorities would handle it if, for instance, the season had to be suspended for a bit (presumably could easily happen if just one team were affected by the virus.) Would they declare the whole season null and void? Take the current standings as the final ones? Look to delay the start of next season?

Playing without supporters obviously impacts lower league clubs in particular who rely on that revenue.

If games have to be played without supporters then perhaps Pl games could play some recorded anti-VAR chants for when Stockley Park gets involved, just so some normality is maintained 

Also intersting to consider the impact on the officials. The nature of the CL/EL means that they are obviously required to travel overseas. As with the players, presumably anyone having any potential symptoms could have an impact on some of their other colleagues too.

Obviously we all wish everyone well and hope that everyone on RTR is unaffected.

Your last line I wholeheartedly agree with. (not disagreeing with the rest but that was the most important line for me!)

A few gymnastic events have now been suspended due to it & Italy seems to be going into complete lockdown so there is a very real possibility that other sports and countries will be similarly affected.

I know they are a few months away but is there a possibility of the Euros and Olympics being affected? I guess part of the answer to that is how quickly the virus can be brought under control.

PSG V Dortmund to be played behind closed doors in the CL, so Taylor and co will experience that.

PSG V Dortmund to be played behind closed doors in the CL, so Taylor and co will experience that.

What's the score with the pre-match respect handshake? Looked awful on Saturday but also seemed/felt very pointless when players (and managers & yes Mr Howe, I disappointedly include you...) carried on spitting all over the place!

Since Italy seems to be about a fortnight ahead of the rest of Europe, it may be worth looking at what has happened there, if only to avoid repeating some of the mistakes.  The last ten days or so have been chaotic, largely because of different views held by the government (and individual ministers within the government), the Italian FA, Serie A (and its individual clubs) and the Players' Union.  I gather some meetings of the Serie A clubs have been quite fiery.  There was a particularly chaotic situation at the Parma – SPAL game due to be played behind closed doors yesterday lunchtime: just as the players were about to enter the field of play, word arrived that the Minister of Sport wanted the game to be postponed, a view shared by the Players' Union (though not necessarily by the players themselves).  The League, however, wanted the game to go ahead, possibly of the issue of television payments, and after about 90 minutes of uncertainty their view prevailed.  I'm not sure that the presence of the SPAL players was strictly legal, since yesterday's government decree forbids all but essential travel between the quarantined zone (including Parma) and the rest of the country (including Ferrara, where SPAL are based).   

If only because of these quarantine rules, it now seems likely that Serie A, along with other professional sporting competitions, will be suspended sine die (to resurrect a traditional football phrase).  I have seen it suggested that if the season has to end here, the title will not be awarded, relegation will be suspended, but two teams will be promoted from Serie B, creating a competition of 22 teams.  But I am not convinced that will actually happen.       

Bulgarian FA have stopped selling tickets (temporarily) for the Nations League semi final play off between Bulgaria v Hungary, due to be played on March 26th.  I have a press ticket for the game so will need to keep an eye on that!

https://bfunion.bg/news/46749/0?fbclid=IwAR3NYHIJVOb4AMSqGmbwMNUJ1DJ49rkC9Oml1E7LZnI_z0kQHtRPmFRCmBU

Bulgarian FA have stopped selling tickets (temporarily) for the Nations League semi final play off between Bulgaria v Hungary, due to be played on March 26th.  I have a press ticket for the game so will need to keep an eye on that!

https://bfunion.bg/news/46749/0?fbclid=IwAR3NYHIJVOb4AMSqGmbwMNUJ1DJ49rkC9Oml1E7LZnI_z0kQHtRPmFRCmBU

Game now behind closed doors and the federation have issued the handshake ban domestically with immediate effect.  Not sure how the behind closed doors affects accredited press, we are awaiting confirmation as to whether we will be allowed to attend still or not.