64 Non League clubs facing battle with the FA and Coronavirus

To void or not to void? , that is question of many FA associates who now face heavy criticism from Non League clubs who have expressed their concern to not expunge all current results and standings of the 2019/20 season. All due to horror show Coronavirus has caused over the last couple of months .

The Football Association announced the decision to void all the National League and National League North and South, and women’s football below the Women’s Super League and Championship for this season on Thursday , all due to the recent Coronavirus outbreak .

Despite having voided those leagues below. The Premier League and EFL , the FA are said to be continuing to find a solution to fulfil the remaining fixtures in those leagues.

The Football Association spokesperson said this in a recent statement.

“The decision taken to end the 2019-20 season across Steps 3-7 of the National League System, the women’s football pyramid and the wider grassroots game was made by committee representatives for the respective leagues, and was supported by the FA Board and the FA Women’s Board.

“It will now go to the FA Council for ratification. We fully support the decision they came to during these challenging and unprecedented circumstances for English football.”

Clubs such as South Shields have expressed their anger towards the FA as they were “runaway” leaders in the Northern Premier Division as they were 12 points at the top of the table .

South Shields’s Chairman Geoff Thompson threatened he could take a legal action because of the decision to void the season , which currently is ratified by the FA Council.

64 clubs from below steps three and six of the non-League system including Worthing, Maldon & Tiptree and including South Shields teamed up with their counterparts from women’s non-League clubs .

The letter very heavily accused the FA of “ needless and inexplicable haste” and said this was “coupled with total lack of substantive dialogue or consultation with affected clubs”.

Clubs such as Jersey Bulls have also expressed their anger at the Football Association with their involvement in the letter , after they were top of the Combined Counties Division One League and despite having “won all of their 27 encounters this season” will not be given promotion.

All the 64 clubs had all agreed with the decision to stop play during the ongoing health crisis, but they were confused as to why results were voided in the lower leagues while the Premier League, EFL and others remain on hold with the hope of completing the season.

They also stated in the letter that “Most clubs in steps three to six have now completed 70-80 per cent of their league fixtures, and it is incomprehensible that these results should be delegitimised and expunged on the basis that the final quarter of the season cannot be fulfilled in the future,”.

The importance of fans and the future of football clubs financial situations were also discussed as the letter wrote “The decision also disregards the millions of pounds invested and countless hours expended collectively by clubs, and so has critical financial implications”

Ahmed Ali