News

What Premier League suspension means for FPL managers and FFScout

The Premier League have announced that all matches will be suspended until the weekend of April 4, 2020 in light of growing coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.

That means that there will be no fixtures in Gameweek 30 and Gameweek 31.

That round of action is scheduled to take place after the next international break, although Euro 2020 play-off matches and friendlies are at risk of postponement in light of CONMEBOL already cancelling World Cup qualifiers.

As things stand, no decision has been taken on what the rest of the 2019/20 campaign will look like, or if the season will be declared null and void.

It looks as if the situation will be reviewed again as we approach Gameweek 32 next month while postponed fixtures will be rearranged when possible.

“Despite the challenges, it is the Premier League’s aim to reschedule the displaced fixtures, including those played by Academy sides, when it is safe to do so. In this fast-moving environment, further updates will be provided when appropriate.” – Premier League statement

We will endeavour to bring you a breakdown of the exact impact on FPL as and when we have it.

What does this mean for FFScout?

As a result of the Premier League’s unprecedented, but not unexpected, announcement, we will cease all coverage of the build-up to Gameweek 30 with immediate effect.

We will spend the next few days assessing the situation and working out what content we can produce for the foreseeable future.

In that time, the production of articles, videos and podcasts will temporarily experience a shift in focus until we know more about what the future holds for the Premier League and Fantasy Football.

Over the next few days, we will endeavour to bring you as much news as is relevant to the situation and our focus on FPL strategy will, in line with the gravity of the situation, be stripped back.

We will be temporarily suspending the FFS Cup and Head-to-Head leagues and making a decision further down the line on how best to proceed with the competitions.

What is the latest on coronavirus in football?

The news of the Premier League’s suspension comes in the wake of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta testing positive for COVID-19 in the late hours of Thursday evening.

The Premier League had originally planned to see all Gameweek 30 matches proceed as scheduled but the news coming out of the Emirates Stadium seems to have forced their hand.

Not only has Arteta gone into self-isolation, but the entire Arsenal squad has also done the same, following contact with their manager while he has had COVID-19.

Naturally, this put the Gunners’ trip to Brighton on Saturday at extreme risk, and later on Thursday evening, it was officially postponed by the Seagulls.

Meanwhile, over the last 14 days, Arsenal’s squad and manager have also been in contact with Portsmouth and West Ham in the FA Cup and Premier League respectively.

Since then, Chelsea midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.3m) has tested positive for COVID-19 and gone into self-isolation, while his team-mates have also entered into the same protocol.

There have also been subsequent updates from Watford, Everton and Bournemouth on Friday morning revealing a number of Premier League players have gone into self-isolation.

The wider football world will now look ahead to Tuesday when UEFA will convene a video conference between the 55 governing bodies it presides over to discuss the future of European football and the fate of the upcoming 2020 European Championships.

What to do if you think you might have coronavirus*

If you think you might have coronavirus or you’ve been in close contact with someone who has it:

  • stay at home and avoid close contact with other people
  • do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
  • use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next

The 111 coronavirus service will tell you if you need to continue to stay at home (self-isolate) or if you need medical help.

* Information taken from the official NHS website.

820 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 15 days ago

    Hit the WC now?
    If season is not void, would WC GW32 anyway

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Yeah go on then.

  2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 15 days ago

    If you make it as far as 2:34 - Indeed it has 🙂

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wwtbQXTugo

  3. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 15 days ago

    Rate My Epidemiology?

    Lassa
    P Plague, Marburg, Yaws, B Plague
    #Covid19, E Bola, CJD, Zika
    Trips (c), Dengue

    1. MC Hammer
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Is Trips Trippier?

      1. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        You loose 5 geek points:
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Trips

    2. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Sars in for a hit?

      1. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        On the bench. Deadly finishing, but doesn't get round the pitch enough.

    3. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Captain COVID-19. Form over fixtures.

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Think it has both, tbh.

    4. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 15 days ago

        I have my doubts about Zika's dedication. Proceed with caution.

      • Miniboss
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Brave to go without Asian Flu but granted gametime has been quite low recently

      • Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        You need Pedro Flu in there

    5. MC Hammer
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      All those FPL related Twitter and YouTube accounts!!! haha

      1. OleGGMU
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Youtubers financial crisis, welcome to 2020 haha

      2. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        What about them?

    6. Superflymonk
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Everything not going according to plan now. All that careful transfers and hits to stock-up on gw31 players. Looks like I'll play my wildcard as soon as the games resume because I was dead-ending my team. I think fpl manager who've burned the wildcard and more importantly free hit chip could struggle navigating the last matches of the season, if there's a season left.

      However, I hope everyone recovers from this and life resumes as normal. Can't imagine what a country on lockdown feels like. Must be hard.

      1. Egg noodle
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        The country isn't really on lock down. It is certain sports only

        1. Indpush
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Not yet

    7. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Strange that Wales vs Scotland is still on in the Six Nations.

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Social distancing can be observed....

        1. potatoace
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          That would be an interesting game of rugby.

    8. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Partial refund of my FFS membership please.

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Shameful post.

      2. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Google, “Force Majeure”. 🙂

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Just joined Villa and classified as a defender. How much on FPL, any idea?

          1. jtreble
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            He’ll be the same price as Salah I guess ...

      3. MC Hammer
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Free membership to all for the next two weeks

    9. FPLShaqiri
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      So worth wildcarding?

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        a bit pointless imo

      2. Majestic Chanka
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Go try Fantasy Eliteserien if you have a tinker itch to scratch, season starts in early April. There is an article here on FFS as a starting point.

    10. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      So should I expect a tiny ranking rise because of people getting -4 for this GW already?

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Yes, but tiny and probably only closer to rank 1 million or something like it.

    11. Dangerous Rhubarb
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      I think FPL will freeze any transfers.....for the time being to preserve the status quo.

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        They could be Burning Bridges if they do that. Some people will want values to go Down Down.

      2. MC Hammer
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Party time for anti-FPLs

        1. OleGGMU
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Ghost teams rising from the dead...FPL apocalypse has began

      3. Jambot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        I think teams will be reset to the end of the last game week as if this was a free hit where everyone scored zero

    12. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      At least Enda Stevens will recover from injury by April 4th. There is always a bright side...

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Thanks for finding it 🙂

      2. Assisting the assister
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        I was going to ask if I should hold Maddison too but I think the answers would be like what you mean you still have him...

        1. Sgt Frank Drebin
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Wait, what you mean? Don't say you still have him 😮 ?

    13. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      They haven’t invented the words for the possibility that Liverpool’s pl title might be nullified. Who cursed them

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Fergie Time

    14. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Spend your FPL time understanding how the stock market works. Never a better time to invest than times of austerity.

      1. HamezMace
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Any tips?
        Airlines, and hotels?

        1. potatoace
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Pharmaceuticals I'd expect.

          1. Jafooli
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            Insurance

            1. Sgt Frank Drebin
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 15 days ago

              Toilet paper companies maybe?

              1. HamezMace
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 15 days ago

                The Andrex puppy is going to be working overtime

                1. MC Hammer
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 15 days ago

                  especially with all that free time on their hands for FFS members 😉

                2. Sgt Frank Drebin
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 15 days ago

                  Seriously though, in my country a largest pasta company has gone up 25% in a day the government announced closure of schools and universities

        2. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Blue chips stocks who have taken a hard it only because of Corona Virus.

          1. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            Guessing Disney will have dropped a bit today.

        3. Egg noodle
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Companies in warmer countries whose entire staff can happily work from home like Tata Consultancy Services in India.
          Ofcourse pharma companies etc too.

          Or just hedge your bets and bank on the ftse 100.

          1. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            Thanks Eggy

      2. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        *Uncertainty?

      3. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Word!

      4. Klaren
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Pharma (there is a specific one here but can't share company name to avoid any legal issues, just do some research) and Netflix are good short term options IMO.

        There are some very good value investing options as well (stocks for established companies that provide good long term value that are on a discount price right now)

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Ship has already sailed on Inovio Pharaceuticals [NASDAQ INO]

          Share price has roughly doubled in a month due to their apparent proximity to some sort of vaccine

          1. Klaren
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            Inovio isn't the only one that's close, there are some others and the market will be mostly led by speculation as we won't see anything certain until late summer.

      5. noquarternt
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Anything with a strong balance sheet in a government protected oligopoly that is essentially unaffected by the actual virus.

      6. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Buy the dip

      7. MC Hammer
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Understand and stock market dont really go together in one sentence

      8. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        The amount of blue chip stocks that can be snapped up for last year's prices...

        Where the bottom though - no point buying now & in a months time they're at 3 years ago prices or worse etc

        1. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Reading the peaks and troughs - twas ever thus.

        2. Jarnathan
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          It depends on how heavily invested you already are. Nobody can predict the bottom, so buy in tranches on the way down.

      9. Jarnathan
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        I already do and have and bought plenty

    15. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      I bet that when they suggested a mid season break they weren't thinking of this.

    16. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      If the rest of the season is played at some point, it looks like it will be all in 1 huge GW.

      GW30 and GW31 fixtures have all been removed but deadlines haven't changed.

      1. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        BB disco inferno

    17. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      I think get all managers together for a 20 man fifa session to end the season

      1. Demí
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Woy's fcked then

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Demi 😮

        2. Jambot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Mate, I reckon Woys got some skills. Mourinho can claim he controlled his players ‘like
          Puppets’ for real too

    18. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Best movies to watch on Netflix?

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        The Circle - a load of trapped stir-crazy people killing each other off one by one. Will be a good insight into how FFS is going to be over the next 3 months.

        1. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          😀

      2. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Liverpool 19/20 Season - Return to Glory

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Too soon?

        2. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Lol

          1. Jafooli
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            😉

      3. ppv
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        12 Monkeys. Futuristic with Bruce Willis where a virus has destroyed most of worlds population. Great film

        1. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Yep it was great one... I want something new

        2. Majestic Chanka
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Was that out before BW stopped caring completely?

    19. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Looks like FPL treats it like blank GW 30 and 31 for all clubs. Is Premier League supposed to resume from GW32 and those 2 GWs played later or all the fixtures are moved now and at 4th of April GW30 is played?

      1. Miniboss
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        No-one knows

        1. Sgt Frank Drebin
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Cheers

      2. Patio Kev
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        I expect they will plan to keep the fixtures from GW32 as they were onwards and then add the GW30 / 31 fixtures in as GW39 / 40.

        In reality though I expect GW32 won’t happen either.

        1. Sgt Frank Drebin
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Yeah I agree sadly... Just imagine all those fixtures are moved to GW38 and all teams have triple or quadraple GW...

    20. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      The first thing I do every morning when I wake up is click on that hot topics button and review the overnight price changes.

      My life now feels empty 🙁

      1. MC Hammer
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Join the club

      2. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Yep - we lead a sad life. Cold turkey starts now.

    21. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Harry Kane expected back April 4th.

      1. Assisting the assister
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Yep planning to bring him in on WC

    22. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Quadruple GW incoming?

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Spreading rumours I had Covid-19? 😉 😛

        1. Chucky
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Lol 😉 ... good to see you are fit and healthy 😀

          1. Jafooli
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            😎

      2. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Pfft ... septuple.

    23. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      I want my -12 back!

      1. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Sorry, all sales final.

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          But hits aren't 😉

          1. jtreble
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            Yes they are. Sorry.

      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        I want my -4 for C Auba back also!!!

      3. Assisting the assister
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        All TC Mane chips should be returned too.

      4. Patio Kev
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Free Hit and quit moaning.

    24. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Just noticed I have my GW32 team set up nicely already with triple Arsenal v Norwich.

    25. BobB
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Can't we start a new version based on buying players we think will get it? Arsenal and Chelsea players premium price....

    26. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Breaking news : Arsenal have contacted the English FA that the league should be canceled and be rewarded Alphabetically

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        AFC Bournemouth laughing!!!

      2. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Wolves spewing....

    27. How I met your Mata
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Time to get on footy index

    28. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Casuals finally punished. They've been gloating and praising this season for months and now the PL goes in and confirms it's been too much of a luck based season and that it might as well be canceled. Egg on the face of casuals

      1. MC Hammer
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Casuals probably don't even know about the suspension and busy making transfers still and messing up with the prices, ffs

      2. Naboo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        If you're still being embarrassed by casuals at this point in the season, you just need to hold your hands up and admit you're about as 'pro' as the FFS pundits and the @FPL crowd on twitter

      3. Jambot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Wish you’d link your team so we could see how a professional plays the game. Have a feeling there’s a good reason you don’t.

        1. DNML
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          +1

      4. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Here he is 😀

    29. BobB
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      No way the season can be finished unless all games played before end-June.

      1. Jambot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        It can be finished whenever it’s completed.

        1. BobB
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          It really can't, without leaving insufficient time to plan next season's programme

          1. No Kane No Gain
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            It can...

          2. Jambot
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            It absolutely can. Will probably actually help get in line for the winter World Cup too.

      2. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        My view is that next season can't start until this season finishes

        1. Jambot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          This is so obviously true. Can’t understand that people can’t see passed imaginary lines in the sand of when it starts and ends. If they can start a new season then they can finish this one

          1. Pep Pig
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            Exactly mate. The 2020/21 fixtures would have an earlier pile up than usual but this season will no doubt finish. Just much later than expected

    30. hsduk101
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      If prem league is cancelled as it stands now for this year. will there be a champion this year, or go back to lasts winner?

      Also who qualifies for next years champions league? (minus man city)

      1. No Kane No Gain
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 15 days ago

        Won’t be cancelled, no point discussing it.

    31. Releasebreaks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      i have been preparing my team for the last 3 gameweeks, hit already -4 and -8 to be ready for gw31.. :(:(