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  • April 2021 (Revised April 2021)
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Project Restart: Deciding the Future of English Football

By: Nour Kteily and Deepak Malhotra
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:21
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Abstract

In March 2020, the English Premier League football (soccer) season was suspended partway through due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two months later the season remained in limbo, with a looming deadline to decide whether to attempt to complete the season or curtail it—and if so, how. These decisions had major implications for a number of key stakeholders, each with their own incentive structures. One key point of contention was whether to temporarily cancel the system of relegation (i.e., demotion) from the league for the bottom teams. This case investigates the process by which a decision was reached, considering the role of historical and social context in shaping the eventual conclusion.

Keywords

COVID-19 Pandemic; Sports; Health Pandemics; Decision Making; Fairness; Values and Beliefs; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Motivation and Incentives; Outcome or Result; Perception; Negotiation; Sports Industry; United Kingdom

Citation

Kteily, Nour, and Deepak Malhotra. "Project Restart: Deciding the Future of English Football." Harvard Business School Case 921-050, April 2021. (Revised April 2021.)
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About The Author

Deepak Malhotra

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
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Related Work

    • September 2021 (Revised October 2021)
    • Faculty Research

    Project Restart: Deciding the Future of English Football

    By: Nour Kteily and Deepak Malhotra
    • April 2021 (Revised April 2021)
    • Faculty Research

    Project Restart: Deciding the Future of English Football

    By: Nour Kteily and Deepak Malhotra
Related Work
  • Project Restart: Deciding the Future of English Football By: Nour Kteily and Deepak Malhotra
  • Project Restart: Deciding the Future of English Football By: Nour Kteily and Deepak Malhotra
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