COVID-19 and how best to complete the 2019-2020 football season

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

  • Meilyr Jones
    Cardiff Metropolitan University
  • Alun Hardman
    Cardiff Metropolitan University
The purpose of this chapter is to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the football world and examine how distributive justice in terms of the relevant difference principle, has been interpreted to determine the outcome of European competitions/leagues for the 2019–2020 football season. The three methods examined are (a) completing the season by playing the remaining games behind closed doors, i.e., without fans; (b) determining the outcome of a season using the Points Per Game (PPG) formula, and (c) to cancel the season and declare it “null and void.” The chapter indicates that there is merit to each of the positions considered but aims for a position that strikes the best balance between safeguarding people's health and well-being, assisting the economy, and at the same time, can ensure that principles of fairness and justice are maintained. It concludes that the only fair and just way to decide the 2019–2020 season was to complete the games behind closed doors.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPhilosophy, Sport and the Pandemic
EditorsJeffrey P. Fry, Andrew Elgar
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter11
Number of pages17
ISBN (print)9781032102146
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022
Externally publishedYes
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