By early afternoon, it was clear the game was up.
Even before Manchester United’s official statement confirming the shut down of their Carrington training ground, officials at Brentford knew there was little chance of Tuesday night’s fixture going ahead.
The carefully chosen words from Old Trafford that landed at around 3pm were dancing around what everyone knew: there was no way the match could be played with the first team group (including support staff) impacted significantly by confirmed virus cases.
So if both clubs acknowledged that fact, why was cancellation only confirmed at around midnight?
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It left thousands of supporters with booked trains and days off with less than a day’s notice that their plans would be disrupted. Given the money those Manchester United fans will have spent, what was the delay?
The Premier League want to ensure fairness around the rules but the incursion of a new variant on the national sport clearly demands urgent changes to their protocols.
Daily PCR tests are on the way for players. Covid protocols are being beefed up and clubs are returning to the belt and braces measures that accompanied Project Restart.
Clubs, administrators and players are holding their breath about what comes next. “No certainty whatsoever,” was how one described the situation to i yesterday. No-one, thankfully, is talking yet of putting games behind closed doors again – which left the game on its knees last year.
But it’s clear that what we have is not enough.
The official guidance issued to clubs – no doubt influenced by the need to fulfil lucrative TV deals – is that if 14 fit players are available the match should be played. But the ecosystem of elite Premier League clubs doesn’t end with the players: coaches, support staff, analysts and nutrionists are all equally as essential. Manchester United might reasonably point out that if many of them are isolating, should they be expected to travel and risk injury to a star asset?
The Premier League needs to refine its regulations around the virus fast. Last year they were only dealing with clubs when it came to making calls on postponements, but the return of supporters has added an extra urgency to making swift calls.
Fans are already asked to swallow a lot with games being moved to satisfy TV schedules that keep the profits flowing at the top end of the Premier League. Midweek games in the week before Christmas are another drain on the resources of supporters who are already forced to wait for the same companies to pick their fixtures before kick off times and dates are confirmed.
It makes it an expensive business and cancellations are an inevitable part of living with a pandemic. But leaving it so late suggests fans were not considered as negotiations took place on Monday afternoon. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
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What must happen now is clear guidance along with clubs considering a compensation scheme to reimburse or help out with travel costs from last minute Covid cancellations. Given the money flowing through the game, it’s the least they can do.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3pUJMdF
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