English elite set up meeting to discuss Government’s extension of fans’ lockout
ENGLISH Premier League clubs will meet on Tuesday in an emergency session to discuss the extraordinary circumstances of the current season now that the UK Government has effectively ruled out any fans attending matches until March.
The special shareholders’ meeting, confirmed late on Friday night, is necessary because of the number of pressing issues caused by coronavirus and the Government’s new restrictions, and will be monitored closely by key figures north of the border.
There is frustration at a number of Premier League clubs that the Government expects them to bail out the English Football League to the tune of £250m at the same time as imposing restrictions on fans which mean all clubs are expected to make huge losses this season.
Whilst the Premier League is mindful of the tightrope the Government has to walk and that safety is paramount, it is felt that the decision to ban fans, announced by senior cabinet member Michael Gove, isn’t based on science but on political expediency, in that it would look bad even if there is minimal risk.
One source pointed out that Gove, Minister for the Cabinet Office, spoke of stadia ‘thronged with crowds’ while test events have shown that is far from the reality. It suggested senior politicians hadn’t studied data from or engaged with the reporting from the test events.
Most clubs have space to provide for rigid social distancing and experienced stewards to enforce it. Clubs also have a record of attendees for track and trace, while many pubs and restaurants aren’t taking customers’ details, as it’s impractical yet have been allowed to stay open and have customers.
Whilst an EFL bailout will be on the agenda on Tuesday, it is unlikely to be agreed until there is more clarity on the way ahead from the Government.
Financial expert Kieran Maguire has calculated what the losses of Premier League clubs would have been in 2018-19 without match-day income. Chelsea would have lost £202m, Everton £131m and Arsenal £124m and only two clubs would have made a profit.
The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust has calculated that the club will lose £83m this season but that assumes the club will earn around 20 per cent of its usual match-day income, which now looks optimistic.
France, with a higher coronavirus infection rate, has fans back as do Germany, Holland and Belgium. Lille had 4,964 fans at their Ligue 1 game on Friday night, Augsburg 6,000 at their game with Borussia Dortmund yesterday, Ajax had 11,948 for the visit of RKC Waalwijk last week and Standard Liege 6,732 when hosting Kortrijk.
Informed sources across the talks between sport and the Government
think it is unlikely there will be any fans back until March next year and even then it is likely to be 20-30 per cent of capacity. Even for that to happen, there would need to be test events in January and February, which seems unlikely given that it will be midwinter and the worst time for a pandemic.
Some clubs say earning 15 per cent of usual matchday revenue is now a best-case scenario.
Tuesday’s meeting will consider the EFL bailout but the clubs will first need to address a way forward with the Government. An EFL bailout will depend on the Championship adopting a wage cap. Leagues One and Two already have wage caps.
Some Premier League clubs are unwilling to subsidise clubs if the money is simply used for players’ wages and transfers. It is likely some clubs will want aspects of the EFL rule book to come into line with the Premier League, which means a step closer to a de facto Premier League II, even if there is no suggestion it would be formalised.