All English soccer below the three divisions of the fifth tier National League will end immediately due to the coronavirus pandemic with all results from the season expunged, the FA said on Thursday.
The top three National League divisions, the Women’s Super League and women’s championship remain in talks about how best to conclude their seasons.
However, with no new teams promoted into those leagues, they could decide to follow suit which would then affect the men’s professional divisions.
The Premier League and other top level soccer in England is suspended until at least April 30 but the governing bodies have said the current season can be extended indefinitely.
“The FA and NLS (National League System) steps three to six have reached a consensus that their 2019-20 season will now be brought to an end, and all results will be expunged,” the FA said in a statement.
“This will mean no promotion or relegation of clubs between NLS steps three to six, and no promotion to NLS step two.”
The National League, popularly referred to as sponsor Vanarama, comprises a mixture of professional and semi-professional clubs.
The FA said all grassroots football was now ended for the 2019-20 season.
In the Spartan South Midlands league New Salamis and St Panteleimon miss out on promotion even altough they were almost certainties.
“These are challenging circumstances for English football and all decisions taken are in the best interests of the game and in consultation across key stakeholders,” said the FA.
“Today’s steps take into account the financial impact during this uncertain period, whilst considering the fairest method on how the sporting outcomes for the season will be decided with the integrity of the leagues in mind.”
South Shields is considering legal action against the Football Association after all results for the 2019-20 season below the three divisions of the fifth-tier National League were expunged due to the coronavirus crisis.
The FA announced the move on Thursday but the decision has angered teams like South Shields, who are 12 points clear at the top of the Northern Premier Division and closing in on promotion to National League North.
“We do not understand the rush there has been among many quarters of the non-league game to conclude the season so quickly,” the club said in a statement here
“We will write to the FA in the strongest possible terms so they are left in no uncertainty as to our feelings, and will seek to appeal if there is a mechanism to do so. If the response does not satisfy us we will seek legal advice.”
The FA’s decision also applies to women’s football below the Women’s Super League and Championship, while grassroots football has been brought to a close for the season.
Barnsley Women, who are currently in the National League Division One North, expressed their frustration in a statement here , accusing the FA of “not taking women’s football seriously
“Let’s take whatever action is necessary and available to get the FA to do the right thing,” the club said.
The Premier League and other top level soccer in England is suspended until at least April 30 but the governing bodies have said the current season can be extended indefinitely.
In Sunday football for the KOPA League and the Watford Friendly League where Omonia Youth and AEK Youth play the directives from the LFA and Middlesex FA are.
London and Middlesex and Herts FA have been working closely with The FA and the wider grassroots game to clarify what this means for London’s clubs and leagues. Following direct guidance from the FA and to support leagues in the decisions they make, we recommend strongly that two options are considered:
a. Competitions are brought to an immediate end with results expunged (i.e. without promotion or relegation occurring).
b. League positions and promotion and relegation are resolved by a points per game calculation.
We would ask that leagues consider expunging results in line with the NLS and women’s pyramid to support consistency across the game. We also strongly recommend that, when planning for next season, consideration is given to placing teams into the right division based on their capability, especially when it comes to youth football.
There should be greater flexibility around cup competitions, with options including simply cancelling the competition, trophy sharing (if finalists already determined), or delaying of finals possibly to a “season opener” for the 20/21 season.
