Quote:
Originally Posted by d_phaneuf
They shouldn't be penalized, I dont even blame then for requesting it after the shenanigans liverpool pulled on them a week earlier, but the league rule needs to be changed or interpreted differently going forward.
They had 1 covid case at the time of the request, they have a reserves and academy full of players. As was pointed out they loaned two players in the week prior to the game.
The premier league wouldnt move spurs game vs leicester the 3rd week of december, which would have allowed them to play Rennes in their final conference league group game, So the premier league effectively limited 1 of their own clubs from europe, and then was willing to move a game weeks later because arsenal loaned out some players and couldnt have a few academy players on the bench. It's a joke
La Liga has the rule of only 5 senior players being needed if academy players are also available and the clubs get on with it.
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The reason they should be penalized is because it’s complete mismanagement, and it’s their doing. It’s pathetic that they even requested a postponement, but that never should’ve been granted. It should’ve been a clear option:
A) play the game
B) forfeit and face a points deduction
They had 20 players for Thursday and suddenly they can’t find 13? That’s a lie. Are they suggesting that if Xhaka doesn’t get suspended they could’ve played? First of all, that’s part of the game that’s club their size could handle, and second, they shouldn’t factor in suspensions at all.
Leeds played yesterday, and had 7 debutants. You didn’t see them crying for a postponement. Oh, and they won. But these guys couldn’t play the squad they wanted due to things other than Covid. That’s their decision, and they should have consequences for that.
And what about the paying fans? People have laid out money, made all kinds of arrangements to be there, and the circumstances aren’t to their liking, so the games off? I have no idea why that’s OK. Obviously if they fail to play it’s a forfeit, and obviously they need a penalty to make sure this kind of thing isn’t happening.
Lastly, Liverpool apparently had a pile of positive tests. I don’t agree with that either, because they weren’t positive, but two wrongs don’t make a right and that sort of thing.
Here’s what really happened. Arsenal were scared. They we’re going to get beaten and looked for a loophole. We tested players on Wednesday to have our players ready, and made arrangements for the game. But they had one guy with Covid. Completely and utterly pathetic for a professional organization.