West Brom manager Sam Allardyce has led calls for a two-break “circuit break” to stem the rise of Covid-19 cases in the Premier League, though Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not see the benefit of halting football matches for a fortnight.
On Tuesday, the Premier League revealed there were 18 positive coronavirus tests among players and staff in the top tier, a season-high total.
A number of Covid cases at Fulham has reportedly put their match with Tottenham on Wednesday evening in doubt, with the Premier League Board having the final say as to whether the 6pm fixture at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will go ahead.
It would be the third postponement of the Premier League season, and second in a week after Everton vs Manchester City was called off just hours ahead of kick-off on Monday amid several positive cases in the City camp. Aston Villa vs Newcastle was also postponed earlier this month.
Premier League guidance on postponements
Guidance in the Premier League 2020-21 Handbook states: “Permission will not be granted to postpone a League Match where the applicant Club has 14 or more Players listed on its Squad List available.”
The Premier League Board agreed to postpone Everton vs Man City after City lodged a late request following a rise in cases at the club.
“The Board agreed to rearrange the game as a precaution, and further testing will now take place tomorrow,” a statement read. “The decision has been taken with the health of players and staff the priority.”
The Premier League went on to state it has “full confidence in its protocols and rules, and the way in which all clubs are implementing them”.
The Telegraph reported Premier League chairmen have discussed a potential two-week break, while Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo has suggested further talks may be necessary.
And speaking after his side’s 5-0 loss to Leeds, 66-year-old Allardyce claimed safety is paramount given the rise in cases across the UK, with the majority of England expected to be placed under the toughest tier four restrictions after the official number of new daily cases soared past 50,000 for the first time on Tuesday.
“Everyone’s safety is more important than anything else,” he said. “When I listen to the news the variant virus transmits quicker than the original virus [so] we can only do the right thing which is have a circuit break.
“I am 66 years old and the last thing I want to do is catch Covid. I’m very concerned for myself and football in general. If that’s what needs to be done we need to do it. We had one positive this week and it seems to be creeping around no matter how hard we try.”
Solskjaer: I can’t see benefit of break
Manchester United manager Solskjaer watched his side move up to second in the table after a last-gasp win over Wolves on Tuesday night, and the Norwegian suggested the schedule would only get more congested if a circuit break were to be approved.
“It’s not something I’ve thought about a lot. I think our players have been really good in following protocols and rules,” Solskjaer said.
“That’s part of the job here, that we as clubs follow the protocols given. I can’t see the benefit in having a circuit break, whatever it’s going to be called.
“Because when are we going to play the games? We all know this year is so difficult, but I don’t think stopping the games is going to make a big, big change.”
Premier League test results this season
Per premierleague.com
- Round 1: 31 Aug-6 Sep – 1,605 tested, with three testing positive.
- Round 2: 7-13 Sep – 2,131 tested, with four testing positive.
- Round 3: 14-20 Sep – 1,574 tested, with three testing positive.
- Round 4: 21-27 Sep – 1,595 tested, with 10 testing positive.
- Round 5: 28 Sep-4 Oct – 1,587 tested, with nine testing positive.
- Round 6: 5-11 Oct – 1,128 tested, with five testing positive.
- Round 7: 12-18 Oct – 1,575 tested, with eight testing positive.
- Round 8: 19-25 Oct – 1,609 tested, with two testing positive.
- Round 9: 26 Oct-1 Nov – 1,446 tested, with four testing positive.
- Round 10: 2-8 Nov – 1,646 tested, with four testing positive.
- Round 11: 9-15 Nov – 1,207 tested, with 16 testing positive.
- Round 12: 16-22 Nov – 1,530 tested, with eight testing positive.
- Round 13: 23-29 Nov – 1,381 tested, with 10 testing positive.
- Round 14: 30 Nov-6 Dec – 1,483 tested with 14 testing positive.
- Round 15: 7-13 Dec – 1,549 tested with six testing positive.
- Round 16: 14-20 Dec – 1,569 tested with seven testing positive.
- Round 17: 21-27 Dec – 1,479 tested with 18 testing positive.
Neville: ‘This virus isn’t going anywhere in 2-4 weeks!!’
Ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville does not believe a two-week break is required. The Sky Sports pundit said on Twitter: “Football has proven through the last 6 months it can operate safely. It was right to be cautious and concerned through the first lockdown when the virus was new and unknown. It shouldn’t stop now in my opinion . This virus isn’t going anywhere in 2-4 weeks!!”
What have other Premier League managers said?
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo: “The rising of the cases is increasing massively over the country and we are not an exception.
“Some things are impossible to avoid. If there’s a break coming, then people have to sit down and see if it’s for the better.”
Brighton boss Graham Potter: “Whatever the people think is the right thing to do, for the health of our community, that’s the most important thing. Whatever is deemed right, that’s what we’ll do.”
Burnley boss Sean Dyche: “We’ve got protocols in place and everyone has tried to align with the protocols. But that doesn’t stop everything.
“I just hope it stays outside of football as best it can. If the numbers keep rising we’ll have to deal with that accordingly.”
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