Covid 19 - LOI Ramifications

[joey B]

It will be grand for the big clubs,but alot of clubs running week to week could be in massive trouble if there is extended postponement of games or they are played behind closed doors,worrying times for some I'm sure....

[sbgawa]

No club in Ireland can afford to play behind closed doors, unlike the UK where tv money dwarfs gate money.
If gatherings are cancelled the league will be postponed and restarted later.
Or maybe the fairest thing would be to giv the trophy to whoever is on top now.

[pineapple stu]

Dundalk have a million or two left from the Euro money presumably.

Other than that, no point making this a big club v little club thing. It would affect every club pretty much equally

[Nesta99]

Dundalk have a million or two left from the Euro money presumably.

Other than that, no point making this a big club v little club thing. It would affect every club pretty much equally

You'd like to think so but who knows!!

I suppose understandibly decisions are being made on a worst case scenario basis - especially with this '60% of the population could catch the virus' rhetoric. On a LoI basis it makes little difference between postponing the league and playing behind closed doors surely, with the main cost being players wages and their contracts having to be honoured either way i'd imagine. It's a complete pain in the aras though by next week there will be a better idea of which way things will swing. I'll refer back to the point on closing pubs and clubs in which there is a much higher risk of cross infection than at LoI games or many other events (sure arent some grounds inhospitable to any living organism anyway), which will indicate how serious things will really be taken, as opposed to looking like everything pssible is being done. If things do trend toward a worse case scenario then we'll be dealing with this for the next 6-12 months and life must go on at some point. In the same way that the TB crisis made spitting generally taboo in this country at least lets hope that not washing hands after using the toliet in pubs et al will be frowned upon as anti-social behaviour!

[total hoofball]

I think it's likely that games will be postponed or played behind closed doors at some point over the next 3-12 weeks, how long it will last for nobody can know. If there is any lengthy disruptions to the league schedule it will have huge implications for clubs and players on waged contracts that largely depend on matchday income. As it's early in the season if things did get really disruptive an extended season over the winter or a shortened 18 or 27 game season for the Premier Division would have to be considered on a contingency basis

[Buller]

I dont think LoI games will ever be played behind closed doors without some sort of online streaming service. The LoI is different to other european leagues which have lucrative TV deals, we have nothing to fall back on. Think I saw before that 60-70% of LOI club revenue comes from the gates?

Worried a lot of clubs could go out of business should matches be cancelled or postponed. How will wages be paid?!

[El-Pietro]

This will kill the league without some kind of safety net from the government. No Irish club (maybe Dundalk or Rovers but realistically even they will be in trouble) can afford to go a month, two months without gate receipts. Bigger clubs have larger income but equally larger costs. As a league we budget season to season.

Could the likes of Pats and Waterford survive with individual owners who are able to pay the bills during a period without games? Perhaps, but even their pockets will be hit by the overall downturn/recession that is coming.

If anything the smaller clubs will be best protected as they have mostly part time players and lower overall costs. But realistically we are going to see several clubs hit the wall unless there is government intervention.

[sbgawa]

I agree EL P its not even just the gate receipts for this season if the season is cancelled then all season tickets for next season will have to be issued F.O.C so its a massive hole that cant be filled easily.
We will be behind a long Q looking for money to keep going and i cant see that working well for the League.
The FAI are broke as well so no help there.
Hopefully the Government who will be concerned about the GAA will allow crowds of up to 4 or 5 k

[joey B]

Czech,Spanish,Polish,Austrian all playing games behind doors I see today,its a matter of time here I fear and its very worrying.....

[D24Saint]

Czech,Spanish,Polish,Austrian all playing games behind doors I see today,its a matter of time here I fear and its very worrying.....

Yeah it’s coming things are snowballing . In such circumstances it’s a disgrace that Cheltenham is going ahead as normal , I’m delighted but very surprised. The Brits & Yanks have been slow to react in particular, the opening day of the MLB at the end of the month is set to go ahead as normal aswell.

[sbgawa]

The Brits are asserting their independance from Europe by not doing what the Europeans are doing.
Hopefully the Govt don't ban our matches.
To be fair if they put a limit of 4000 on it that would do for most matches.
Its a bit of a joke if they ban football matches and leave the Schools open , there are probably 2000-2500 people through my local school every day between kids , teachers and parents.

[pineapple stu]

This will kill the league without some kind of safety net from the government.
It'll kill the government to step in and subsidise every industry that could suffer here. Ireland is still stuck with huge IMF debt remember.

Business interruption insurance could kick in - if it doesn't bankrupt insurers of course.

Where this all ends, I've no ideas. It all seems very over the top at the moment - what happens if/when we have 10k cases?

[NeverFeltBetter]

The news of Trinity's quasi-shutdown has staff in my workplace spreading panic on Whatsapp groups, and it is beyond irritating to have to tell grown men and women to keep calm.

[Nesta99]

Yeah it’s coming things are snowballing . In such circumstances it’s a disgrace that Cheltenham is going ahead as normal , I’m delighted but very surprised. The Brits & Yanks have been slow to react in particular, the opening day of the MLB at the end of the month is set to go ahead as normal aswell.

Not really wanting to be too political but this isnt a tempered response its denial that there is any reason for concern at all as in an election year and the performance of the economy the keystone to a presedential re-election bid, for the world economy to slip in to recession couldnt be worse/better timing depending on opinion.

The Brits are just the Brits in a 'whatever comes this way we will suck it up and get on with it - remember the war!!'

I will worry about LoI when I start to see schools, universities (and pubs lol) ordered to shut for protracted periods. Anything else would an unbalanced and pointless response. So suspend LoI where there are often less that 2000 people present in the open space as opposed to similar numbers sitting in close proximity in classrooms? If this were to happen then i would be convinced that any response is about optics and not proper containment.

There could be a bit of irony that the lower attendance averages are currently the better off things could be financially for clubs if a ceiling on the numbers at public gatherings is say 2000. Would it be cheeky of clubs to just cap capacity at the maximum number or would that be a PR own goal? It could be make or break as mentioned!

[El-Pietro]

It'll kill the government to step in and subsidise every industry that could suffer here. Ireland is still stuck with huge IMF debt remember.

Business interruption insurance could kick in - if it doesn't bankrupt insurers of course.

Where this all ends, I've no ideas. It all seems very over the top at the moment - what happens if/when we have 10k cases?

I understand the govt can't support every group/business etc. I'm simply saying LOI clubs don't have a financial pot that they can dip into in case of games being cancelled or played behind closed doors. Most of our clubs live week to week and month to month.

[sbgawa]

Not really wanting to be too political but this isnt a tempered response its denial that there is any reason for concern at all as in an election year and the performance of the economy the keystone to a presedential re-election bid, for the world economy to slip in to recession couldnt be worse/better timing depending on opinion.

The Brits are just the Brits in a 'whatever comes this way we will suck it up and get on with it - remember the war!!'

I will worry about LoI when I start to see schools, universities (and pubs lol) ordered to shut for protracted periods. Anything else would an unbalanced and pointless response. So suspend LoI where there are often less that 2000 people present in the open space as opposed to similar numbers sitting in close proximity in classrooms? If this were to happen then i would be convinced that any response is about optics and not proper containment.

There could be a bit of irony that the lower attendance averages are currently the better off things could be financially for clubs if a ceiling on the numbers at public gatherings is say 2000. Would it be cheeky of clubs to just cap capacity at the maximum number or would that be a PR own goal? It could be make or break as mentioned!

Heard from a teacher friend that apparantly the Schools are closing from Friday until after Easter.
Given that they are off next Monday/Tuesday for Paddys day it is only 2.5 extra weeks off but means the Schools are closed for 5 weeks.
The Teacher did say not confirmed so it could be fake news but given the way the Holidays fall it makes sense.....NB NOT CONFIRMED

Edit :Now confirmed as fake news

[Nesta99]

I doubt anyone is disagreeing EP, and as far as a Govt prop ups go, LoI is probably in the very last place in the queue. How is UEFA goodwill toward us for another Irish soccer bailout...

[Nesta99]

Heard from a teacher friend that apparantly the Schools are closing from Friday until after Easter.
Given that they are off next Monday/Tuesday for Paddys day it is only 2.5 extra weeks off but means the Schools are closed for 5 weeks.
The Teacher did say not confirmed so it could be fake news but given the way the Holidays fall it makes sense.....NB NOT CONFIRMED

Well if the fall of the easter break minimises the disruption of closures it very well could happen. It'd be a stroke of luck for the Dept of Ed to be able to be proactive without having to make a really difficult decision that totally disrupts the remainder of the school year. I was thinking myself that they might shift the holiday calender around so same amount of days closed but bring them forward and hope this fizzles out in that time.

[sbgawa]

With average crowd of 4000 (hopefully more) and taking season tickets out i'd say gate receipts on average are 20k per match for Rovers. x 15 remaining homes (after Friday) = 300k
Lets say Dundalk are 200 Cork 200 Sligo , Derry 175, Bohs (very little as mostly ST just away fans) say 100k say 100k each for the other 4 ...thats only about 1.3 or 1.4 million and all games could be played behind closed doors.
Not a lot to finish the league and ensure 300+ players/staff get paid for 6 months, if it took that long.
300 people at 200 per week dole for 6 months would be 1.5 million.

I know my figures are complete ball park stuff but the amounts of money involved is relatively small and certainly if the clubs closed and the staff all went on the dole it is very marginal.

[total hoofball]

An unnamed Linfield player has tested positive for Covid-19. Hopefully the player will be ok, this will have huge implications for the IL and the last 2 months of their season. The LOI, the clubs and the PFAI need to be looking at this and start contingency planning now

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0310/1121472-linfield-player-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/

[D24Saint]

I think we are going to die and if not from this then something else.

[Nesta99]

I think we are going to die and if not from this then something else.

Hopefully very old age! or boredom if we all end up in an Italian like lockdown..

While still proportionately small numbers 631 deaths in a couple of weeks Italy isnt insignificant. Nottingham Forests owner testing positive after meeting the 1st team squad prior to a match could be relevant in influencing decisions on games here especially if players pick up the virus, likewise with the IL case mentioned and definitely if players from opposing clubs that were played test+.

[Kingswood Rover]

This will be the last weekend of games i reckon

















This is the last weekend of games folks if they even go ahead i reckon

[Kingswood Rover]

The Brits are asserting their independance from Europe by not doing what the Europeans are doing.
Hopefully the Govt don't ban our matches.
To be fair if they put a limit of 4000 on it that would do for most matches.
Its a bit of a joke if they ban football matches and leave the Schools open , there are probably 2000-2500 people through my local school every day between kids , teachers and parents.
Just thinking that a lot of supporters may well opt not to go to games even if they do go ahead this week

[NeverFeltBetter]

EPL starting to postpone matches now.

[redobit]

In recent years Sligo Rovers (and other clubs too Im sure) have had to go a number of weeks without a home gate. The longest was 11 weeks without a home game, so in some ways this is not a new development in terms of money management. Gaps like that has the potential to literally push clubs to breaking point. A lot of clubs would not survive that to be completely honest. Fan owned clubs without sugar daddys like ourselves, Harps, Cork plus Derry and Bohs to a lesser extent are in a really tough situation if games are postponed/ cancelled. Other clubs will feel the pitch too if it went on for a prolonged time. Fans will undoubtedly be cautious and not go to games, as FR has said, so gates will be down for sure. I was really hoping for a straightforward season for the league after the FAI debacles of recent years, unfortunately that seems unlikely now.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

If worst comes to worst stream all the games, charge a fiver a pop. All Premier division games are already set up for it and first division clubs could even do it with just a bit of creative thinking. Obviously a fraction of the income you'd get for tickets but it's something which is better than nothing and probably less overheads too.

[Nesta99]

I think you could probably charge a bit more, at €10 under the circumstances, it could help bridge a gap.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

I think you could probably charge a bit more, at €10 under the circumstances, it could help bridge a gap.

Die hard loi fans would pay more but you risk losing the people that might be interested in the LOI but aren't fully committed, might go every second home game or something. You've also to remember if LOI games are behind closed doors, odds are there's a lot of people out of work for one reason or another and they might not be getting paid to the same level they normally are so might be tightening the belts

[pineapple stu]

EPL starting to postpone matches now.

Should be noted that's a specific instance where Arsenal played Olympiakos around the time their owner caught the virus.

It doesn't mean mass postponements in and of itself yet - but you do get the feeling that can't be too far away

[sbgawa]

Streaming with poor or no comentary is **** tbh.
The floating fan is gone as well as any casual fans.
The die hards core support would pay for streaming if for no other reason than to keep their clubs alive but the income would be tiny.
If i remember only a few hundred streamed a Rovers away game in europe last year at a fiver.
Postponing matches and playing later makes more sense, scrap the EA cup the FAI cup (our 26th year as holder :) )
Reduce the games to 27 if needed.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Streaming with poor or no comentary is **** tbh.
The floating fan is gone as well as any casual fans.
The die hards core support would pay for streaming if for no other reason than to keep their clubs alive but the income would be tiny.
If i remember only a few hundred streamed a Rovers away game in europe last year at a fiver.
Postponing matches and playing later makes more sense, scrap the EA cup the FAI cup (our 26th year as holder :) )
Reduce the games to 27 if needed.

Easy to get a volunteer or two to do commentary, even bohs gantry has space for two commentators and a cameraman to be a meter apart and it's just a case of plugging two mics and maybe headphones into the mixer.

It was 1,500 and that included pubs and big groups which you can assume wouldn't happen as much at least this time considering the reasons that would be behind playing behind closed doors

[Mr A]

Spoke to the42 about this issue. https://www.the42.ie/irish-clubs-fear-for-their-future-amid-coronavirus-chaos-5040482-Mar2020/

NLEC meeting FAI and PFAI today to discuss the impact.

[D24Saint]

I’d say it gets sticky either way for clubs , behind closed doors they lose money as they have to pay players , if the season gets extended they have to negotiate with players who are out of contract.

[Mr A]

FAI Statement: https://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/fai-meet-nlec-pfai-to-discuss-covid-19-outbreak

[redobit]

I’d say it gets sticky either way for clubs , behind closed doors they lose money as they have to pay players , if the season gets extended they have to negotiate with players who are out of contract.

That's it really. Paying players/ staff is the main thing that would need to be agreed. Two options here imo:
1. Move the mid season break to when its needed for virus lock-down. Not ideal but no alteration to season. Players may have holidays booked but sure haven't we all.
2. If a longer break is required, take a worst case scenario of 2 months. Best thing would be to move the two months to the end of the season. You have to deal with 2 types of contracts then. The season long contracts can go on the dole for the 2 month break (thats what would happen anyway for them at the end of the season anyway, so no real difference to their pay packets). The break has no real impact on long term contracts really, cause they would be getting paid year round anyway.

[pineapple stu]

All outdoor events with an attendance more than 500 "should be" cancelled with immediate effect until 29th March, per Leo just now.

So that's the Premier off - and probably the First Division as well, though technically many games could still go ahead unaffected.

No guarantee things will resume after 29th March either.

[littlebray]

Complete shut-down is the likely outcome, FAI statement this afternoon. Can't see any other fair way of doing it. You couldn't say Harps home games OK, Shams, Cork, Dundalk ditto not. And you couldn't run Div I on a limited attendance basis ("let 999 in and then stop"!).

[Zenith]

SFAI are already after calling a halt.

https://sfai.ie/2020/03/12/statement-sfai-update-regarding-coronavirus-covid-19-and-schoolboy-football-activities/

[pineapple stu]

Derry v Sligo tomorrow officially postponed

[CityRebel]

Where's the money going to come from?

[D24Saint]

Where's the money going to come from?

Id say the clubs are as much in the dark on that one as we are , I seriously doubt their insurance covers this.

[Scrufil]

But, but, how can they cancel a game between Athlone and Wexford? Even if they were to play each other 3 times in a row they wouldn't add up to a crowd of 100!

[Martinho II]

TBH I would prefer this country to be in total lockdown to get rid of this virus once and for all. If theres no footie so be it. My elderly dad is in his early 80s and will die if hes exposed to these conditions.

[littlebray]

Everything off for a fortnight (until 29th) says FAI.

[Finlay Harp]

It’s all John Delaneys fault!

[Nesta99]

TBH I would prefer this country to be in total lockdown to get rid of this virus once and for all. If theres no footie so be it. My elderly dad is in his early 80s and will die if hes exposed to these conditions.

Caution is prudent but I wouldnt be so fatalistic about it either. Even within the at risk demographic mortality rate is far from 100%, not that Id want to test the numbers.

It'd be interesting to track the 54k that were in Anfield last night (3000 Spaniards also) and assess any cross-infection. I can't get the head around how Cheltenham has avoided restriction and with the biggest day, Gold Cup to come. Flies in the face of what seems to be best practice across Europe, yet its the UK that have 'strong borders' and avoid a ban on travel to the US. (Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said that events such as the prestigious Gold Cup should go ahead as planned."There’s no reason why people should not be going to those sort of events,"I think it’s very premature to be talking about that sort of thing.”)

What is with the panic buying of bread and bog roll? I'd have expected the alcohol aisle to be sold out and go out singing, fitting a stereotype if you will. There is no imminent shortage of anything which is where the grumble remains on scaremongering!

Id have been of a similar opinion a week or so ago but in such a fluid circumstance ye reassess. I still think there is a general overreaction in terms of doomsday, but better safe than sorry at this stage.

I hope the same wriggle room on credit is afforded to LoI clubs as with other businesses even if credit ratings are trash. All clubs have limped on with crowds of 500 or so and managed to keep going - more of the same and with more likelihood of financial supports might happen.

[DCWA]

Cheltenham was always going ahead because horse racing and bookmaking are a sport and an industry with exceptionally close ties to the state in the UK, in particular the Conservative party actually.

The Grand National meeting in a couple of weeks will go ahead too in my opinion albeit possibly behind closed doors.

[pineapple stu]

Mikel Arteta diagnosed. Everton and Leicester also affected.

I'd say this is a lot more widespread than the figures show. The only upshot of that is that the mortality rate must be lower than currently calculated.

[D24Saint]

Cheltenham was always going ahead because horse racing and bookmaking are a sport and an industry with exceptionally close ties to the state in the UK, in particular the Conservative party actually.

The Grand National meeting in a couple of weeks will go ahead too in my opinion albeit possibly behind closed doors.

I love Cheltenham but this has show that horse racing is run by elites who don’t give a toss about the plebs. It shouldn’t have gone ahead.