The Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship seasons have today been officially terminated for the 2019-20 season. No WSL games have been played since February 23rd due to the coronavirus pandemic, which was preceded by an international break in early March.
The teams have voted to terminate the season, with the cost of regular testing prohibitive to a large number of women’s clubs. With no money spinning broadcast deal underpinning the leagues, there is no additional pressure from television companies to finish the season.
We can confirm that a decision has been made to end the 2019-20 season in the @BarclaysFAWSL and @FAWC_.
— The FA (@FA) May 25, 2020
A statement on the FA website read, “Following overwhelming feedback from the clubs, the decision to bring an end to the 2019-20 season was made in the best interest of the women’s game. This will also enable clubs, the FA Women’s Super League & Women’s Championship Board and the FA to plan, prepare and focus on next season when football returns for the 2020-21 campaign.
“Following full and thorough consultation with the clubs, the FA Women’s Super League & Women’s Championship Board has discussed various recommendations which will be sent to the FA Board to determine the most appropriate sporting outcome for the 2019-20 season. This will include identifying the entries for the 2020-21 UEFA Women’s Champions League, which would be based on sporting merit from the 2019-20 Barclays FA Women’s Super League season.”
A decision on how the tables will be decided will be put to a vote and decided on at an FA board meeting on Wednesday, with the options either to completely null and void the season [unlikely], a points per game model or a weighted points per game model. In either of the last two scenarios Arsenal would finish 3rd, marginally behind Manchester City and Chelsea and outside of the Champions League qualifying places.
The Gunners were also in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League. For Arsenal, a decision from UEFA on whether to complete the Champions League ties will be key. They were due to play PSG in the quarter-finals in March. As it stands, Arsenal are the only club in the last eight of the tournament who are vulnerable to not qualifying for next season’s competition. Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich from Germany will be allowed to finish the season, the other 5 teams have all qualified for next year’s competition already with their leagues having been cancelled and final standings decided.
PPG is an absolute nonsense
I saw somewhere that at moment about 70% of WSL games have been played. To decide the league based on a formula with so many games still to play and margins being so small, seems iffy. I hope that Arsenal will fight for their womens team. For neutral it may seem like the “fairest”, but I am not neutral :). I would be up for somekind of playoff. I understand that WSL had to be cancelled, because of money. Testing and stuff is too excpencive for most smaller womens teams, but Chelsea, City and Arsenal should be able to do… Read more »
This is the problem. The FA has tried to instigate a professional league but realistically there are only four clubs with the mentality and financial clout to operate successfully in that environment and it is no coincidence that they are currently the top four in the WSL table. Until other women’s teams can drum up more substatial support from their parent clubs and sponsorship, plus the FA level the playing field with their participation payouts, women’s football is going to drift backwards. In the 21st century with a professional league in this country how can it be right that teams… Read more »
I agree: UEFA should fine a way to finish this year’s Champions League.
Otherwise, the Gunners could get screwed out of /both/ their 2020 and 2021
CL opportunities.
What a joke. Either its safe and everyone should play, or if it’s not safe and cancel everything. Not fair to cherry pick because of money.
Unfortunately, it is professional sport and it is all about money. I would not be surprised if the 20/21 WSL season is in danger also because this virus will not have disappeared in a few months when that is due to begin and there will still be very little money in the women’s game. Who goes into the 21/22 Champions League then, perhaps the last two clubs standing?
We have two debates wrapped into one. Frustratingly, two abject halves of football against Chelski have basically screwed our season and showed that you cannot call the WSL a competitive professional league with three clubs so far in front of the others ( alright, MankU could join the elite but that is still a season or two away). The pandemic and it’s consequences have exposed the post World Cup hype to be just that…….hype but no real substance. If the league positions (and CL qualification) are determined by whatever formula of “sporting merit” is used we are 3rd. The mini… Read more »