Shearer makes coronavirus claim all Leeds, West Brom fans will hate

Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer claims Championship pair Leeds and West Brom should be forced to miss out on promotion should the season be scrapped due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The English game, like most of Europe, has suspended all football until April 3 at the earliest due to the outbreak, which has, at the time of writing, killed 35 people so far in the UK.

And while there is no outline as to what would happen were the English football season be ended now due to the outbreak, a report in the Daily Telegraph claimed senior club executives at the Premier League say there would be no issue declaring Liverpool as champions in a decision that could also see the Premier League extended to 22 teams to accommodate Leeds and West Brom, who currently top the Championship.

However, a number of leading voices claims the season could be declared “null and void” were it not to be completed, with West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady leading the calls.

And despite Leeds and West Brom – currently seven and six points, respectively, clear of third-placed Fulham – occupying the top two all season in the Championship, Shearer insists they should not be promoted should the season be scrapped.

Writing in his column for The Sun, Shearer says: “People have spoken of bringing Leeds and West Brom up from the Championship — but there would be uproar from other clubs.

“Sitting seven and six points above third with nine games to go, there is no guarantee they would finish in the top two.”

Shearer, however, insists not finishing the season has to be the last option considered by the Premier League and EFL and the former Newcastle striker argued: “NOT completing the season has to be the very last option on the table.

 

 

“Every angle and scenario has to be looked at in order to reach a conclusion, even if that means a long delay before playing into next season.

“There is so much speculation and opinion. But the bottom line is that everyone is guessing, and right now there are far more important things.

“If, and it is a huge if, the season cannot be completed then there is no way you can have a winner or loser.

“As harsh and as horrible as that would be for some clubs, none more so than Liverpool,  it is the only outcome. If you cannot complete the fixtures then you cannot go handing out titles or consider relegating anybody.

“For Liverpool, it would be incredibly harsh.

“But I cannot see how it would be fair to hand them the title – despite the fact it  is obvious nobody is going to catch them.

“They only need six points to wrap it up but they haven’t got them yet so for that reason it has to be declared null and void.

“It would be very different  if the season was suspended after they had got the points to win it.

“But they haven’t and however horrible a scenario it would be, it’s the only option.

“At times like this, though, there is little point in guessing games while people are dying and things are expected to get worse.”

 

Sports lawyer claims Coronavirus could see season scrapped

Coronavirus lab TEAMtalk

Meanwhile, a respected sports lawyer has given table toppers Liverpool and Leeds new reasons to worry the season will be scrapped due to the coronavirus outbreak, declaring it akin to the scenes witnessed in World War II.

Cramer says if football doesn’t start again in early April, football’s authorities may have no choice but to declare the season void – which would be ‘devastating’ for many clubs.

“If they get the games going by the beginning of April, I think we should be all right,” Cramer told Sky Sports News.

“But if we go through to May or June, it’s almost inevitable – it’s almost the equivalent of what happened in the world wars – that the season just has to be cancelled and they start all over again.

“It’s obviously devastating for the likes of Leeds United and West Brom. Those clubs are on the verge of promotion. Also Liverpool, obviously.

“It’s not a great thought, but they will have to abide by what the majority say and what decision is eventually made by the board of directors.”

The news comes after Virgil van Dijk admitted his concerns that coronavirus could force Liverpool to lift the title in an empty stadium.