Cole: Why Liverpool Shouldn’t be Crowned EPL Champions Amidst COVID-19 Crisis

Cat:

Related stories

Thailand’s PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended over leaked Hun Sen call

Thailand’s constitutional court has suspended the prime minister, Paetongtarn...

2027: Atiku, David Mark, Secondus, Tambuwal, Others Hold Crucial Meeting, Weigh Options

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside former Senate President...

Ranked: 40 Best Countries in the World, According to People

Key Takeaways Switzerland tops the 2024 “Best Countries” ranking from U.S....

OPEC Tensions Build as Kazakhstan’s Oil Production Hits All-Time High

Kazakhstan’s crude oil output jumped 7.5% in June to...

Drama as Lagos Monarch Strips Six Chiefs of Titles Over Labour Party Rally Attendance

By Abiola Olawale The Ojora of Ijora and Iganmu Kingdom,...

A former Red, Joe Cole does not think it would be fair for the top-flight crown to arrive at Anfield prematurely, as the Covid-19 crisis rages on.

If the current season cannot be completed due to the coronavirus outbreak, then the campaign should be restarted from the beginning, according to Cole, who does not believe Liverpool should be handed the title.

Liverpool boast a 25-point lead over reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at the moment, having won 27 of their 29 fixtures to date.

The domestic crown which has eluded the Reds for 30 years looked destined to end up in their trophy cabinet come May, before the season was postponed indefinitely amid the ongoing fight against Covid-19.

All English football fixtures have been postponed until the end of April at the earliest, with government officials advising citizens to remain in their homes and practise social distancing in order to contain the spread of the illness.

It has been suggested that Liverpool should be named as champions if the season be abandoned completely, but Cole believes such a scenario would stir up too much controversy.

“Obviously we need to finish the season as soon as we can, if we’re allowed to. That would be ideal,” the former Reds midfielder told the Daily Star.

“If we can’t finish the season, and it’s getting close to the following season, the only situation which I think is fair is to just restart it.

“Everyone’s tribal. Everyone wants what’s best for their clubs. But unless you do a blanket thing for everyone, it’s going to have knock-on effects.

“In my opinion, that’s the only solution. Restart from scratch if we cannot finish the league.”

Cole went on to express his belief that public safety must come above football in these uncertain times, adding: “I’m sure there are more intelligent people than me coming up with solutions but we’re in a situation as a country where we have to stick together.

“Everyone in the football world needs to understand that as well. Finishing a 100 metre race at 70 metres leaves a lot of arguments.

“We’ve seen so many times in sport – it throws up so many surprises, doesn’t it? You can never be sure what’s going to happen.

“We’re in a situation where people have to be selfless in their lives and in football we need to lead the way.

“It’s going to benefit some clubs and others are going to be very upset but bigger things than football are at stake. It’s people’s lives and livelihoods.”

'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

[tds_leads input_placeholder="Your email address" btn_horiz_align="content-horiz-center" pp_msg="SSd2ZSUyMHJlYWQlMjBhbmQlMjBhY2NlcHQlMjB0aGUlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyMyUyMiUzRVByaXZhY3klMjBQb2xpY3klM0MlMkZhJTNFLg==" pp_checkbox="yes" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXRvcCI6IjMwIiwibWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbSI6IjQwIiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9LCJwb3J0cmFpdCI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMTUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBvcnRyYWl0X21heF93aWR0aCI6MTAxOCwicG9ydHJhaXRfbWluX3dpZHRoIjo3NjgsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMjAiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMzAiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sImxhbmRzY2FwZV9tYXhfd2lkdGgiOjExNDAsImxhbmRzY2FwZV9taW5fd2lkdGgiOjEwMTksInBob25lIjp7Im1hcmdpbi10b3AiOiIyMCIsImRpc3BsYXkiOiIifSwicGhvbmVfbWF4X3dpZHRoIjo3Njd9" display="column" gap="eyJhbGwiOiIyMCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTAiLCJsYW5kc2NhcGUiOiIxNSJ9" f_msg_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_input_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_btn_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_family="downtown-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_weight="700" f_btn_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_transform="uppercase" btn_text="Unlock All" btn_bg="#000000" btn_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxOCIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjE0IiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxNCJ9" input_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjEyIiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxMCJ9" pp_check_color_a="#000000" f_pp_font_weight="600" pp_check_square="#000000" msg_composer="" pp_check_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.56)" msg_succ_radius="0" msg_err_radius="0" input_border="1" f_unsub_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_msg_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_weight="500" f_msg_font_weight="500" f_unsub_font_weight="500"]

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Thailand’s PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended over leaked Hun Sen call2027: Atiku, David Mark, Secondus, Tambuwal, Others Hold Crucial Meeting, Weigh OptionsRanked: 40 Best Countries in the World, According to PeopleOPEC Tensions Build as Kazakhstan's Oil Production Hits All-Time HighDrama as Lagos Monarch Strips Six Chiefs of Titles Over Labour Party Rally AttendanceAnxieties as Ondo Govt Launches Probe into Akeredolu’s Death, Puts Widow Under ScrutinyTrump Blasts Elon Musk Over Renewed Criticism of US Spending BillIn Saint Lucia, Tinubu Receives Highest National HonourOil Prices Dip as OPEC+ Boosts SupplyRanked: The Biggest Currency Drops So Far in 2025Our Officers Deployed To Maintain Order Not To Prevent PDP NEC Meeting -- PoliceDon't Let Ganduje's Resignation Divide Us, Dalori Appeals To APC NWC Members, OthersAPC To Hold NEC Meeting On July 24Bode George Warns Tinubu, Decries Police Occupation Of PDP SecretariatClosing Ogoni wounds, opening old ones
X whatsapp