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. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 16 days ago

    The way I see it is; it’s inevitable ok the vast majority of us are going to catch it there’s no two ways about it. We may as well get it over with as soon as possible, all we are doing is delaying the inevitable. The sooner more people are exposed to it the sooner we will build an immunity against it. All we are doing is trying to buy time, yes there is a shortage of beds but that issue will exist in a week, a month and even six months.

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      The burden on the NHS/emergency services needs to be spread out over time, not dumped on it all at once (https://twitter.com/wtgowers/status/1238395762716917765). If it's really inevitable that most of us will get it, the cases need to be a steady flow rather than a bottleneck. Exposing everyone to it ASAP would overwhelm hospitals.

      1. tm370
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 16 days ago

        Exactly this - if everyone gets it, it will be chaos. The health service has been struggling for years - dump this on top, at a time when seasonal colds and flus are still an issue, and people will be dieing in the corridors. People will still get it when everything is cancelled but waiting too long could/will lead to too many getting it too quickly. Madness that the football would have gone ahead if not for the infections and potential infections of key personnel.

    2. Hect.OR 98th
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      You see it wrong then.

    3. Feanor
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Congrats, you have it completely backwards.

      Google flattening the curve.

    4. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      All i can say is i am so grateful for your educated and informed view.

    5. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      You guys are naive, the NHS will be overwhelmed at any point whether it’s now or in three months time. Not everyone who catches it will be hospitalised will they, only severe cases. Do you see the government building new hospitals right now like China is? No, so it’s hardly like we are using this bided time efficiently to prepare for it. And when the virus fully takes hold the amount of cases will sky rocket in a small period of time comparable to a mass exposure now.

  2. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 16 days ago

    Any Update from FPL so far?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Nope

  3. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 16 days ago

    Pogba doesn't help himself at times

    https://twitter.com/paulpogba/status/1238465606715944960?s=20

    1. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      It's pretty cringeworthy, but it's actually good advice, whether you call it 'dabbing' or 'coughing into your elbow'.

    2. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Instead he's helping millions of others with great health advice 😉

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 16 days ago

        He deserves a lot if credit to be fair. Not for the health advice but for self isolating months ago. Ahead of the game.

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          😆

        2. andy85wsm
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          😆

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      He's a virus

    4. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      On brand

    5. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Oh god

  4. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 16 days ago

    I asked for advice to do Auba to Vardy early in case of price rises and told on here to do it for -4 because a hit was basically -2 with Arsenal in quarantine.

    Now I see the fixtures are cancelled and I will go out of the cup with a -4. Absolutely had it with the bad advice I get from so called pros on here...bunch of frauds

    1. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      huh

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 16 days ago

        My opponent probably didn't take a hit

        1. Benjustjamin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          That doesn't mean you lose. Surely your cup game is also suspended.
          Also if you don't like advice given, stop posting. You sound like a spoilt little ungrateful kid

          1. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 16 days ago

            Of course I lose, the game week goes ahead and I will have -4 against 0. Ive given the people on here a lot of chances but losing me my cup game was the final straw

            1. Benjustjamin
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 16 days ago

              How do you know this is 100%??

            2. Benjustjamin
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 16 days ago

              You made the transfer, you decided which advice you was going to take. IF this happens, it's all your own fault bro

            3. ZimZalabim
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 16 days ago

              cool story bro

    2. snowman
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      don't do it 🙂

    3. villa_til_i_die
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      And casuals!

    4. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Hahah.

    5. tm370
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Is this a joke or satire?

      Why make early transfers in view of the obvious potential of a postponement?

    6. Crystal Alice
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Will the deadline stay as it is? Wouldn't it make sense to delay the deadline until an hour before first kickoff, whenever that may be?

    7. Checko
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Take some responsibility for your decisions mate - you made the call

    8. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Maybe stop being a spoon fed casual and make your own decisions bro

    9. BrutalLogiC
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Not sure if serious?

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

        As serious as niho 😉

    10. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      Brosstan ....excellent!
      Hahaha dry your eyes! It’s ADVICE, Take it as such. Immature child blames other people for their mistakes. Grow up man.

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

        Your replies sustain me

        1. ‘Tis the Season
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Still crying?

  5. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 16 days ago

    I will finally get some green arrows after deadline

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      🙂

  6. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 16 days ago

    I saw a report that La Liga is considering using the "halfway table" (the table after GW19) to decide the league, should it be suspended. What do you guys think of doing that in the PL?

    The only issue I see with it is that GW19 was a repeat of GW8 so, for example, Leicester played Liverpool twice in the first 19 GWs but Wolves didn't play Liverpool at all.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Watford would be pissed.

    2. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      They could use that gameweek where Liverpool played first time with Wolves instead GW where they playing 2nd time with Leicester

    3. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      It would make more sense to make next season 19 games in total than make games that have already been played not count from this season

    4. lespaul
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 15 days ago

      they could discount return fixtures and include the first meeting of each team

  7. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 16 days ago

    Just realised Stevens will be fit for next GW after all!

    1. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Don't be so sure, he may tweak something before June or whenever next GW is!

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Pereira still a long shot 😆

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      Harry Kane too.

  8. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 16 days ago

    Is it time to wildcard. At least 3 weeks of tinkering.

  9. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 16 days ago

    A well connected PL ITK just told me they’re looking at running the end of this season (19/20) and the start of next (20/21) concurrently from August onwards.

    1. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      How so? Would that mean 47 PL games in total - no way they can fit that in.

      1. ZimZalabim
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 16 days ago

        thats pretty much a pre season followed by the new league season

        Makes the most sense if its only safe to restart in august

    2. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 16 days ago

      😆

    3. Party time
        4 years, 16 days ago

        Not possible. Your friend is not a proper PL ITK

      • Party time
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Your friend seems like a dummy to me

      • FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 16 days ago

        No lucky autosub points for KDB owners this coming GW 😀

      • Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 16 days ago

        Glad I saved my WC & FT to navigate the next three BGWs.

        Anyone got any good draft teams?

      • Gazwaz80
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 16 days ago

        When’s the next double gameweek 😉

        1. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          It could be the very 1st GW once matches start again 😉

        2. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          All game weeks will be double gameweeks when the league restarts I suspect.

      • School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 16 days ago

        Can anyone explain how I have ended up with a red arrow since last night. Haven't took any hits or done anything this GW... has it updated something since last GW?

        1. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          You should have a small green arrow. Strange.

        2. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Last gw took ages to update so you probably didn't notice the last update

      • MOTHRA
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 16 days ago

        What would Man Utd fans prefer:

        1. The League voided. Reverting back to 2018/19 final table. Liverpool don’t win the title, United finish 6th meaning Europa league.

        Or

        2. League placing a are fixed today. Liverpool win league, City lose CAS appeal, United get CL spot.

        Just for the record I don't think option 2 is a feasible at all. But I’m curious.

        1. BNMC
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Leicester and Sheffield wouldn't like option 1

        2. Greek Freak
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Someone's bound to argue to revert back to the 1998-99 final table.

        3. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Really desperate trolls on here today!

        4. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          1.

        5. Yank Revolution
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          2 is the most fair and equitable. Its been done in other professional leagues so there's a track record.

        6. Poseidon.
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Revert back to the 1998-99 final table

      • Party time
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Tomorrow is going to be a very long day...

        • Fit_to_drop
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Wolves looked a bit off last night. Granted got a draw, stadium was empty, players might have been a bit flat etc. Jota looked quiet. Doherty came off at half time. Adama did try hard to be fair to him. Draw with an away goal might be enough though.

        • FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Why are fixtures still showing beyond GW30 when GW30 has been blanked and the EPL has been suspended until 4 April?

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 16 days ago

            So will the Game start as it stands from GW32?

            Cannot be...

          2. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 16 days ago

            Because GW 32 starts on 4th april. GW30 and 31 will go as planned in FPL with 0 fixtures played but possible to make transfers between the weeks.

            1. FOO FIGHTER
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 16 days ago

              So no GW's after GW31 are going to be altered?

              1. Brosstan
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 16 days ago

                Postponed games from 30 and 31 could be added to gw32 onwards

                1. FOO FIGHTER
                  • 4 Years
                  4 years, 16 days ago

                  I believe all remaining FPL fixtures should be blanked at this point.

          3. Feanor
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 16 days ago

            Because those April 4th fixtures have not been postponed yet.

          4. MOTHRA
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 16 days ago

            Assuming league restarts, I’d imagine the next GW will be 30, albeit with different fixtures. As it can’t be a Game Week if there are no games... it’ll just be a week.

        • The Reptile
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          What happens to our FTs for Wk 30-32, do we still get them or are they suspended?

          1. TwiggsJameson
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 16 days ago

            Well, who knows for sure. But I guess, unless FPL change the rules, we'll get three transfers between now and GW32.

        • Niho992
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Did anyone activated their WC for this GW?

          1. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 16 days ago

            There was a theory that international breaks was a good time to activate to get high team value

        • BobB
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Q and A section on here would be good, updated as things become clearer

          1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 16 days ago

            The A's would all be worthless

        • TwiggsJameson
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          So, hands up who has taken a hit this week 🙂

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 16 days ago

            You can bet at least 50% of active managers...

            1. TwiggsJameson
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 16 days ago

              Might get a bloody green arrow for a change this week. 🙂

              1. Champions League Varane
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 15 days ago

                Yep

            2. lespaul
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 15 days ago

              more like 1%

        • Coys96
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Come on Kemboy and Chris's Dream

        • Bury94
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 16 days ago

          Feels weird not thinking about FPL already, no point planning anything, no likey!

        • Ógie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          This looks like a good time to get back into video games and any self respecting gamer should be well versed in the art of self isolation.

          Are you a gamer and if so what platform and games do you play?

          I am mainly a PC gamer myself and play games on Steam such as PES 2020,F1 2019,GTA V,Civilization V,Mortal Combat 11,The Tomb Raider series,Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon,South Park and Ace Combat.

          I also like to play arcade classics now and again like Sonic the Hedgehog 2,Streets of Rage 2+3,Road Rash 3,Desert Strike,Contra, Super Mario and Super Mario Cart.

          Also like board games like Monopoly and especially Chess when i can find someone to play against.

          1. Greek Freak
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            Not a gamer per se but I often play Mario Kart online to pass the time, and I frequently have a Zelda game on the go.

            1. Ógie
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 15 days ago

              I never got into Zelda for some reason but i know lots of people that love the series.

              Mario Kart is a classic and is still just a exiting to play as many of the modern AAA titles.

              I forgot to mention i also play World of Tanks online.

              1. Greek Freak
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 15 days ago

                I never used to play either of them actually until my wife (back then my girlfriend) got me into them!

          2. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            PS4 has been gathering dust for a very long time now.

            Not even my son uses it anymore lol

            1. Ógie
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 15 days ago

              Yeah i hardly never use mine either but the young ones in my family rather play on PS4 over the PC expect for Euro Truck Sim 2 which i have on PC and they are mad for.

        • Woy_is_back
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Season over. What a disaster

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            Chance to change your grav?

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

              Nah

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

          Anyone listening to Boris and the experts would know that the strategy is to push the peak to May/June. Season over.

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

            Season postponed...

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

              Cancelled*

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

            Over; doubtful. Postponed; most likely.

        • FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          Why do some believe the season will or should be cancelled?

          What about those teams on the verge of promotion in the lower leagues who are struggling financially to keep the stadium lights on?

          Comon sense does not exist.

          1. Yank Revolution
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            Because the logistics of starting anew are almost too mind boggling to imagine, especially if the delay lasts a month, or two, or three.

            1. FOO FIGHTER
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 15 days ago

              Unless you are a manc fan.

          1. Greek Freak
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            Nice - green arrow incoming!

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

            Nothing on transfers?

            1. Greek Freak
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 15 days ago

              See my reply fail below

            2. Pukki Party
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 15 days ago

              There's info. Basicly we get two free free transfers

          3. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            Interesting for h2h leagues this.

          4. Forza Papac
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            'Managers must also be aware that any transfers made, Wildcards or chips played in a Gameweek where all the fixtures are postponed will not be reinstated'

        • Gobigorgohome
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          ok.. since I did not take a hit, finally i will get a green arrow this week and 2 FTs ready for GW31..cant wait for GW 30 to end..

          1. Greek Freak
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 15 days ago

            "Any activity managers undertake ahead of each deadline will apply to that GW"

            and

            "Managers must also be aware that any transfers made, Wildcards or chips played in a Gameweek where all the fixtures are postponed will not be reinstated"

            1. Greek Freak
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 15 days ago

              Reply fail to Holmes

            2. El Presidente
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 15 days ago

              OMG

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

              So I'll have 2FTs for GW31 if I save this week? Will be forced to make one transfer next week then?

              1. Greek Freak
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 15 days ago

                Looks like it. Not 'forced' per se, personally I'm not going to do anything with 2 FTs since there will be little to no info about what's going on.

              2. My heart goes Salalalalah
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 15 days ago

                Yep

        • FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 15 days ago

          I would not make any transfers now with FPL confirming GW32.