The Athletic’s Phil Hay has shared an article by his colleague Adam Crafton via Twitter, in which he asks what the point of restarting the football season is if relegation is to be off the table.
It’s recently been reported that a number of Premier League clubs would be more open to playing fixtures at neutral venues if the threat of relegation was removed (as per BBC Sport). Crafton’s piece recognises that the league’s proposal is an ‘imperfect solution’, but goes on to say that this move would undermine the ‘sporting integrity’ of this season’s competition.
Some of the Elland Road faithful have responded angrily to the post, with many agreeing with Crafton’s sentiment and Hay’s own tweet that the season would have little purpose without relegation, with many appearing to dread the potential outcome if no clubs are demoted from this season’s top flight.
I hope we restart and Brighton and West Ham go down
— lufcmat (@Mathew1982) May 5, 2020
Norwich as well for whining over spygate last season. They would be the perfect 3 to go down
— Andrew McKeeman (@TennisLeedsNI) May 5, 2020
Leeds and West Brom should join together and sue the Premier League and the clubs who vote for no relegation for the lost revenue for not being promoted £200 million apiece should cover it ?
— Glyn Bingham (@glyn_bingham) May 5, 2020
Surely the integrity of the league is compromised more if there is no relegation. Who is going to put 100% into what is essentially a meaningless friendly. It’s a pointless exercise if the games don’t mean anything.
— The Ev (@david_everall) May 5, 2020
This whole situation is just depressing. “Sporting integrity” has been cast aside completely and self interest is running wild. The prem fees increasingly like an old boy’s club and the door is closed.
— Tom Yeadon (@Yeadon1) May 5, 2020
Do you fear Leeds will miss out on promotion this summer?
Yes
No
I’m not paying sky&bt sport £48 to watch friendlies.
— Tom Jennison ?? (@tom_jennison) May 5, 2020
It’s happening….
— Tinder (@TinderUppal) May 5, 2020
Absolutely spot on this
— CM (@ChrisMoulds01) May 5, 2020
What do we think?
It’s clear that these Leeds United supporters agree with the points made in the article. In our view, the removal of relegation would further undermine the sporting integrity of this season’s competition. Phil Hay recently reported that whilst the club are keen to play their remaining fixtures, they will be lobbying for promotion in the event they are called off.