An unpopular but necessary decision
Yesterday, the governing bodies in Scotland and England announced that league football would be suspended until 3rd/4th April due to the impact of the deadly Coronavirus.
This new virus strain is having a devastating effect throughout the world; Thousands of people have died in China, Italy, Iran and elsewhere. There is the very real danger that Britain could face a similar fate if drastic action is not taken now! As a result, it is sensible for football to take a back seat until the crisis is resolved.
When will football resume?
The proposed recommencement of football in three weeks time appears to be highly unrealistic. This will not be a quick fix.
Until the virus starts to be contained and the daily number of infections and corona-related deaths falls, football will not resume.
The truth is, nobody knows when this will be. Early estimates indicate that it will be at least the summer – the time when next season is due to begin following Euro 2020 (a tournament that will not go ahead this year).
Due to the inevitability of a prolonged postponement of the national game, many are wondering how the 2019/20 season should be concluded? The timing of the crisis on the football calendar could not have been worse! Over three quarters of fixtures have been played. League champions, cup winners, European places, promotion and relegation have yet to be confirmed.
Here are four options that could come into effect in the coming weeks/months:
Option 1: We see this out!
No matter how long Scottish football is suspended (3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, a year, or even 5 years), the season under this option would resume once it is deemed safe. Yes this could mean that certain player’s contracts run out by this point, but regardless of playing staff, the season resumes with all clubs having their current points tally.
A new season would not start until this one is concluded. This could mean that next season does not start until January 2021.
Option 2: Declare the 2019/20 season null and void!
For Celtic, this would be the worse case scenario as the club’s (almost) inevitable march towards nine-in-a-row would be put on hold. It would be forced to start a new season from eight-in-a-row level with all of the other teams. As a result, the club’s hard work throughout this season would be undone.
Clubs such as bottom of the table, Hearts and second placed Rangers, would no doubt welcome this scenario.
Unless the top division is expanded, Dundee United (currently 14 points clear at the top of the Championship) would be denied promotion. This would also impact teams hoping to go up through the play offs, as well as those in contention for promotion from the lower leagues.
Furthermore, clubs chasing European places would also be denied.
Option 3: End the league season with the split
With only three league games remaining before the split (albeit one more for Rangers and St Johnstone), the season could be ended at this point instead. Although the goalposts would be moved, all clubs would have played each other three times.
As it stands, clubs have 8 or 9 remaining games. If football cannot resume before the summer, fulfilling these fixtures could prove highly problematic before the proposed start of next season.
Fulfilling three or four fixtures behind closed doors however, would be a more feasible and practical solution should the crisis improve. The two Scottish Cup semi finals and final could also be fulfilled in empty stadiums.
This is not an ideal situation, especially for bottom placed Hearts, but at least the season could reach some sort of natural conclusion.
Option 4: Finish the season now based on average points tally
Awarding Celtic this season’s league championship (based on its average points tally) has been suggested by both Neil Lennon and Chris Sutton. However, other clubs like Rangers (who can still mathematically win the league), and Hearts (who would be relegated) would strongly oppose such an outcome.
Even from a Celtic point of view, do we really want this?
The Best Outcome
Hopefully, the Corona Crisis will come under control in the coming weeks/months and the remainder of the season will be played. However, as discussed, it appears highly unlikely that it will recommence at the start of April. As a result, compromises will have to be made. There is not one outcome that will please everyone.
By far the two most controversial outcomes would be Option 2 (declaring this season null and void) and Option 4 (ending it now based on an average points tally). Either one of those scenarios would be venomously opposed by either Celtic or Rangers/Hearts.
From the point of view of a Celtic supporter, I would hate for Option 2 to come into effect as it would deny us an inevitable league title – our ninth on the way to the Holy Grail of ten-in-a-row.
In addition, I am also against Option 4 even though it would result in us being declared champions. We have standards. This is not the way we want to win the league. Furthermore, rival fans could question its legitimacy and ‘sporting integrity.’ Celtic will win the league if the remaining fixtures can be fulfilled. Subsequently, the fans do not want its achievements to be undermined (rightly or wrongly).
The most practical solution could be Option 3 (end the season at the point of the league split). Even without allowing fans into stadiums, it might be possible for games to be played behind closed doors, depending on how the situation develops. Playing three or four fixtures could be more feasible than playing eight or nine. This would minimise its impact on further delaying the start of next season. It could also allow the season to reach some kind of conclusion after every team has completed three rounds of playing each other.
Despite leading to an increased delay to the start of next season, however most fans’ preferred outcome is Option 1 (we see this out!). Regardless of how long it takes to resume society and sport to a state of normality, this season must be concluded. If that means next season does not start until the following calendar year then so be it.
Let’s see who deserves to be promoted and relegated! Let’s see who deserves to qualify for Europe! Let’s see who deserves to be crowned champions!
However, despite our passion for the club, the best outcome is for the Coronavirus to be brought under control so that lives can be saved.
God Bless each and every one of you!
By Mark Nicholas
themarkjnblog/football 
You said you would be happy with option 4, beacause we have standards at don’t want to with the league that way. But your fine with option 3, play to the split. But this would effectively be the same as option 4, because with three games remaining for Celtic, and four for rangers they can’t mathematically catch Celtic.
Both scenarios would have the same outcome (i.e. Celtic champions and Hearts relegated) but I feel every team playing each other three times would add greater legitimacy than stopping it now. It’s not ideal but from a Celtic perspective we could also argue that we won the league despite playing twice at Ibrox and once at Celtic Park.
Hearts would actually still have a chance of staying up if they were to win there three games up to the split, so they would probably be in favour of that. Tbf each team playing each other 3 times, wouldn’t be to bad in most people’s eyes regarding legitimacy, but every team in Scotland that didn’t benefit would claim its bullshit. So I think just give it to Celtic now, that’s it done and everyone can worry about what’s important right now. I’d be absolutely gutted about the quad treble being a no go in that situation but so be it.