With COVID-19 putting a halt to all things we hold dear, the question around the footballing world is what should happen to league placings should the season be voided?
It is a once in a lifetime occurrence but nobody knows what decision will be made or whether it will be unanimous.
This brings us to the A-League and more specifically Sydney FC. Should the runaway leaders be given the premiers plate due to their sheer dominance of the league all season The short answer is no.
Does the evidence from around the world back this statement?
At first, it seemed like a real possibility football seasons would be finished but as infected cases around the world have increased, specifically in Europe, it is becoming increasingly unlikely to continue.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin reiterated this in an interview with La Repubblica.
“We have a plan A, B, or C, to restart in mid-May, in June or at the end of June,” he said.
“If then we wouldn’t be able to do any of these, the season would probably be lost.”
A damning statement from the head of the biggest club association in the world.
So where does this leave Sydney FC?
The A-League may differ from inevitable decisions to be made in Europe and the evidence in there to see.
The A-League was one of the last leagues in the world to postpone with Italy postponing on the ninth of March and England around the same period. Australian football ceased the night of the 23rd of March.
With Fox Sports not hiding they would prefer the league to continue, and with social distancing measures put in place, the hope is that the “curve” will flatten in Australia sooner rather than later.
With that in mind, the Sky Blues should not be given the premiers plate just yet.
There may be some football left to play in 2020 and a preemptive handout of winners medals would be rash.
I am certain most Sydney players and staff will agree with me that they would want to win this title on their own merit.
Feature image credit: Matthew Comito
