Soccer - precisely when do Premier League champions become champions?

The Game Room
1

Legally and technically speaking, I mean. I am looking for the precise moment at which a team officially becomes EPL champions.

Is it:

  • At the end of a game that means that they are mathematically certain of winning the league (not necessarily a game in which they are playing)?
  • At the moment the trophy is given to them? (in which case I would guess that there is some behind-the-scenes formal transition)
  • At the official end of the season, if there is such a thing?
  • Something else?
2

When the season ends.

3

Which is, officially, when? Final whistle of the last game that is in play?

4

They become champions once they have an unassailable lead in the league: Man Utd were presented with the trophy this season with a game left to play for example (though of course they won several games ago), it would be hard to imagine in what sense they are not official champions now they have their trophy and winners’ medals.

5

That is precisely what I am imagining. Some people might say that Manchester United are champions. Others would say that Manchester City are champions, right now. Who’s right? And if the latter, until when?

6

Officially Man Utd are the Premier League Champions 2012-13 and Man City are the Premier League Champions 2011-12 - i.e. they are champions of a season.

The idea of “current champions” is unofficial, but nobody would describe Man City as the current champions of the Premier League nor would they have done so since 22nd April. The term “Champions-elect” is usually reserved for teams that have built up such a lead that they are virtually assured of the title, but technically have not yet won the title (e.g. Man Utd just before 22nd April).

7

So, basically, you don’t know. Neither do I. Hence the question. But thanks for trying.

8

What I’m saying is that there is no “official answer” to your question as officially there is no title of the “current champions of the Premier League” as the official title that Man City won was “Premier League Champions 2011-12”, which they will always be unless stripped of their title. This would though entitle them to wear the Champions badge in place of the Premier League logo for the whole of the 2012-13 season.

Unofficially of course people talk about the “current champions” all the time and that title is usually understood to pass from one team to another the moment a new team wins the league i.e. when they gain a mathematically unassailable lead.