Coronavirus Finally Takes The Back Seat, Football Returns

La Liga, Premier League, and Serie A return, while Champions League's return dates come closer than ever. One thing I've realized in this lockdown is, that we miss our sporting mix greatly as soon as it's taken away, even if we barely watch any games when it's there. Kind of weird how that works, right? Anyhow, the football return is a huge relief for the fans, on the contrary, seeing empty stands takes away a small chunk of the excitement as well. But that's a price we have to pay.

Sevilla's Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium (La Liga)

Coronavirus uprooted hundreds of thousands of lives all over the world, and there's little to no slowdown in its spread. Taking all the health risks into consideration, isn't it still a bit too soon for football's return? Couldn't football have waited a bit longer? Here are some of the crucial factors that constituted in its return. 

Financial Implications

Coronavirus is likely to hurt the economy in more ways than one can predict. As reported, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and the Premier League clubs could potentially lose around 1 billion Euros individually, if their respective campaigns were to be suspended. Club finances are dependent on the receipt of money from broadcasting rights sales, as well as revenues generated by each club from matchday income, and commercial sponsorships. With no matches being played, these resources have been temporarily halted, and thus, clubs are facing tough decisions concerning their future and the financial interests of their employees. 

However, there's a lot more to that. Clubs will suffer as it is, but peripheral businesses - such as restaurants, pubs, food stalls and other small merch-selling shops around the stadiums, the main customer base of which was primarily the match-attending fans - will suffer as well. This will largely affect the current economic situation, as a significant portion of income in sports is through fans, well all of it, and a lot of people's livelihoods entirely revolve around them. 

Doubt Regarding 2020/21 Season & Euro 2021

Typically, domestic league climaxes come around the early weeks of May, and the European competition, by the end of May. This year, however, with the outbreak of the Coronavirus, things have had to come to an abrupt halt, with no further information regarding football's return. The global pandemic challenged all upcoming, major, sports events, all across the world, and put a huge '?' against each one of them. Tournaments like Euro 2020, 2020 Summer Olympics, etc., were all postponed to 2021. The delay caused by the pandemic might as well domino toward major sports events in the future, if the time lost isn't made up for, like the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

As for club football, there are serious concerns about the remaining 2019/20 season, but the upcoming 2020/21 season as well, raising questions regarding when the current one should end and then leaning towards when the next one might begin. Because of all the time lost, leagues, to finish their respective campaigns on time, have drafted a very hectic schedule - with each team to play every three days. Also, the governing body of the Champions League has changed the format for the rest of the campaign, as to practically finish it within 10-12 days.

Europe's top-flight still haven't settled on a date for the 2020/21 season, however speculation suggests that it'll come around mid-September.

FIFA's Council Meet

Football Has Always Adapted To Hard Times

This is the longest duration football has ever been paused for. Even during times of mass bloodshed in the past (Germany's invasion of Poland, WWII), football was played. In 1940, matches were played amid bombing raids fears, but even that didn't stop the sport from drawing approximately 45,000 fans. You've read this absolutely right. Even during something as huge as the wars, football was played, and when it had to be suspended, it returned within two months.

It shows how resilient the sport is. It adapts to different circumstances and carries on. Although money may be the main driving force right now, but the fact that there's been a demand for it, from both authorities and fans, can't go unnoticed. Football has a huge impact on morale. A study suggested that over 13 million people in the UK would be happier with football to watch amid the global pandemic.

Most importantly, now that most countries have eased lockdown, and have economic activities resumed, then what's there to wait for football?

The 1940 War Cup Final

Project Restart - 2019/20 Season

Having talked about all the outside-of-the-pitch affairs, briefly, it's time we jump into the real thing. While Bundesliga is over (since it started earlier), Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A have 8-9, 9-10, and 12-13 matchdays to go, respectively. The lockdown took away three complete months off the football calendar, and consequently, the same schedule can't be followed. The governing bodies have come up with a rather hectic schedule, following which, the season can be ended without delaying next season any further.

Source

The proposed plan for the remaining part of the season is, to get over with the league fixtures by mid-July, i.e., clubs will have to play every 3-4 days, and have the Champions League played separately (in August), which is contrary to how the season, usually, is played.

UEFA's been considering all possible options for the rest of the campaign, and they've come up with an alternative that effectively cuts the competition short. The Champions League is set to resume by August 7/8 and in 16 days, it will be concluded. What it means for the competition is, that there won't be two-legged ties further in the knockout stages.

Another big change UEFA is considering, is that matches will be played in neutral venues in Portugal (as per reports), to prevent the home teams' fans from swarming up outside the stadiums, which completely goes against the social distancing rules.


Home Advantage

Perhaps one of the most crucial factors that affect a team's performance on the pitch. Fans, in any part of the world, of any sport, have a habit of forming a culture and support their team through thick and thin. Without them, there's a void that can be felt in the stadiums. There's a prevalent term in football - 'home advantage' -  that seems to have taken the exit route for most clubs as no fans are cheering for the players and motivating them. However, efforts have been made to counter that. Premier League, Bundesliga, and La Liga, over stadium loudspeakers, have added artificial crowd noises. Sounds for scenarios such as fouls, penalties, and goals will be then inserted by a watching producer.

Five Substitutions

Club football is returning after quite a long break, and it has severely impacted players' fitness. To prevent injuries, Administrative bodies of football leagues and championships have allowed teams to use two additional substitutions, as the quality of the rest of the campaign cannot be compromised. Most of the Champions League is yet to be played, while domestic leagues will be decided in the upcoming matches.


Safety Protocols

Disinfected balls, mandatory Covid-19 tests, elbow bumps, and empty seats are now all part of football post the Coronavirus. Strict safety measures are being practiced to prevent any unnecessary pause to the sport again.

In total, approximately 215 people are allowed into stadiums, which includes the medics, media, and the competing teams with their managers, and everyone has their temperature taken.

Substitutes sit on the benches two meters apart to observe social distancing and wear masks, until they begin warming up. Players coming off the pitch are also handed their masks.

The Premier League went on to ban tackling for training as a 'new safety protocol', however, it is a little ridiculous since football is a contact sport. But again, this shows the fear the virus has instilled in our normal lives.

Project Restart Post Covid-19

Humans have this ability to adapt to any given environment, however in today's scenario, we need to learn to live with this more than just to adapt to it. The fact, unknown to none, is, that the Coronavirus is that unwelcomed guest who simply refuses to leave, and it's best if we resume our normal routine with extra precautions because life goes on.