The Premier League insists there are no plans to interrupt the fixture schedule despite a number of games being called off due to Covid outbreaks.
Two more matches fell victim on Thursday as Leicester’s meeting with Tottenham – which was scheduled to take place just hours later – and Manchester United‘s game against Brighton on Sunday were postponed.
So far this season, five games have had to be rescheduled due to Covid.
Increasingly, questions are being asked about the viability of persisting with the December schedule given how many games are being called off at short notice. Yet the Premier League said in a statement that “it is the league’s intention to continue its current fixture schedule where safely possible”.
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Brexit red tape holding up Rangnick's push to bring in more staff at Man Utd16 December, 2021That comes despite fans being advised to consider carefully whether they should be attending matches.
Dr Nikki Kanani, medical director of primary care for NHS England, said: “My advice would be, if you’re going to go to a stadium at the weekend, make it one where you can get your vaccine or help out to give a vaccine, rather than going to watch a match.”
Chris Whitty, the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, said it was “very sensible” for fans to “prioritise the social interactions that mean a lot to them” and to “de-prioritise ones that mean much less to them”.
Postponed Premier League games
The full list of games postponed due to Covid so far:
- Brentford vs Man Utd
- Brighton vs Tottenham
- Burnley vs Watford
- Leicester vs Tottenham
- Man Utd vs Brighton
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Man Utd fans were let down by the Premier League cancelling Brentford game at the 11th hour14 December, 2021While the 2019-20 season was stopped during England’s first lockdown, that was before certain protocols – and the option of testing – were brought in. When the season recommenced, the remainder of it was held behind closed doors.
However, clubs now face a backlog of games later on in the season and it is yet to be confirmed when the above games will take place.
Spurs, in particular, now have three games in hand as they were also affected by the postponement of their trip to Burnley after a snowstorm.
Analysis: It’s time to suspend the Premier League
By Daniel Storey, i chief football writer
The firebreak makes sense. Brentford manager Thomas Frank is the first to publicly call for one and there’s little doubt other Premier League managers privately support his suggestion.
But the league’s governing body must use that period to construct a detailed, documented plan that provides greater clarity to clubs and supporters over the management of Covid-affected fixtures.
If we’ve learned anything from the last 20 months it’s that this problem isn’t going away anytime soon.
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