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The Premier League has decided not to postpone an entire round of matches amid the Covid-19 outbreak in several clubs.
Six of the 10 Premier League matches were postponed on Thursday, but the league kept matches going “wherever safely possible”.
After a meeting of Premier League shareholders on Monday, the League decided to continue as planned with the schedule, where possible.
Meanwhile, the FA has canceled replays in the third and fourth round of the FA Cup this season to help reduce match congestion.
Sky Sports News correspondent Kafe Solhkul said that the replays of the third and fourth round of the FA Cup for the 2021/22 season have been canceled to help reduce match congestion amid the ongoing Corona virus disruption.
The English Premier League also confirmed on Monday that 92 per cent of players and club staff had received one, two or three doses of vaccination against Covid, adding that 84 per cent of players were “on the vaccination journey”.
The statement added that “the league continues to work with clubs to encourage vaccination among players and club staff, in addition to promoting governmental public health vaccination messages for clubs and the public.”
A total of 77 per cent of Premier League players received two doses, which were classified as fully immune, up from 68 per cent in October when the figures were last released.
Inside the Covid match in the English Premier League
Three options were discussed at Monday’s meeting:
Option 1: Keep playing Option 2: Postpone the full round of Sunday-Next Monday matches or next week’s match schedule from Tuesday to Thursday Option 3: Stop playing
The majority of clubs preferred ‘Option 1’, to continue playing where it is safe to do so, while a few clubs including Liverpool were in favor of ‘Option 2’ – they argued it would be unfair to require players to play three matches next week between Boxing Day and January 2nd.
No clubs wanted to stop playing.
The meeting also discussed the high rates of vaccination among players and what can be done to manage players who refuse vaccination. About 77 percent of PL players are now fully vaccinated – up from 68 percent in October.
Sky Sports News correspondent Cafe Solehkull has revealed how many Premier League players have been vaccinated twice as of December 20, 2021.
Concerns have also been raised about the postponement of matches. The Premier League has asked clubs to keep them updated daily on the results of Covid tests for their players, and they hope this measure will go some way to reducing the number of matches postponed at the last minute.
Aston Villa’s match with Burnley was canceled two hours before kick-off on Saturday.
Chelsea were unhappy with the request to postpone Sunday’s Premier League game at Wolverhampton, which ended 0-0, despite seven positive cases.
President Thomas Tuchel said: “We have been put at great risk to the health and safety of the players, not only because of Covid but also physically. I am not sure if I will have Covid. I hope not.”
No vote was taken at the session.
Jurgen Klopp says unvaccinated players are a “persistent threat” and explains their impact on how the club needs to keep track of the Premier League table – including the Carabao Cup.
The Football Association has confirmed its league fixture schedule and the Carabao Cup will continue to be played “where it is safe to do so”.
Trevor Burch, chief executive of the League, said: “Throughout the pandemic, our priority has been to ensure the well-being of those involved in Premier League football and to ensure that the fixture schedule continues wherever it is safe to do so.
“We will continue to work with clubs, authorities and other agencies to monitor the rate of Covid-19 cases and be prepared to respond accordingly, but for now the view remains that we can continue to play games safely as clubs have a sufficient number of healthy individuals on and off the field.
Ipswich CEO Mark Ashton is opposed to any potential circuit breaker in the Premier League despite the ongoing disruption caused by coronavirus cases.
“With the club’s mitigating measures, the mass adoption of reinforced punches and the Covid certification now required for larger crowds, we are sure many fans will continue to feel confident attending matches over the Christmas period and we look forward to welcoming them.”
There will be four Carabao Cup quarter-final matches in the middle of the week.
Analysis: Premier League says ‘Keep calm and keep working’
Solehkull Cafe in Sky Sports News:
“The Premier League clubs have decided to keep calm and carry on. The message we are getting is that the clubs want to keep playing.
“That’s what we’ve been expecting of them. The last thing they want to do is stop football, especially during the Christmas period when there are a lot of matches. Almost every team in the Premier League will play three matches between Boxing Day and January 2nd.
“The feeling is that if it’s safe to play games, we should keep playing.
West Ham defender Craig Dawson said the postponement of Premier League matches ‘short notice’ due to the coronavirus was ‘disappointing’.
“If people work in supermarkets, drive buses and go to work as usual, footballers should also go to work,” a senior executive at a club in the Premier League told me.
“Footballers are human beings, health and safety is the priority. The overtime workload of these players was discussed in the meeting and they have to work in very difficult conditions. We should not relieve the pressure and stress that these players are under.
“The FA is also trying to help because, for this season only, they are considering canceling the replays from the third and fourth round of the FA Cup to help with match congestion.
“We’ve heard from a lot of coaches like Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, that their players can’t handle the amount of games coming up, especially if a lot of their teammates are going to miss out because of COVID.
“So those matches that will take place at the beginning of January will be decided on the same day.”
Thomas Tuchel was unhappy that the Premier League had not postponed its match against Wolverhampton due to the outbreak in the team but he was happy with Chelsea’s performance in exiting Molineux on a point What are the Premier League rules about postponements?
The 2021/22 Premier League handbook includes the Covid protocols, and states that the Premier League’s board will “only allow a re-arrangement or postponement of a league match in exceptional circumstances”.
The board is making calls on a case-by-case basis and by directing the Premier League says permission to defer will not be granted if the club has 14 or more players from the squad list available.
In a statement, the Premier League added that it would “evaluate a number of factors, including the club’s ability to put together a squad, the situation, severity and potential impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the club; and the team’s ability to prepare for and play the match safely.”
“The board must also consider the broader risks of the opposition and other people with whom the club may deal.”
The Soccer Saturday committee discusses what might happen next after several Premier League matches were postponed this week after several players and staff received positive Covid tests.
Brighton vs Tottenham – Sunday 12th December, English Premier League
Brentford vs Manchester United match – Tuesday 14th December, English Premier League
Burnley Watford match – Wednesday 15 December, English Premier League
Leicester – Tottenham – Thursday, December 16, English Premier League
Manchester United vs Brighton – Saturday 18th December, English Premier League
Southampton – Brentford – Saturday 18 December, English Premier League
Watford – Crystal Palace – Saturday 18 December, English Premier League
West Ham vs Norwich – Saturday 18th December, Premier League
Aston Villa – Burnley – Saturday 18th December, English Premier League
Everton – Leicester – Sunday 19 December, English Premier League
When can games be postponed?
Tottenham, whose match at Burnley at the end of November was postponed due to the weather, now have three matches on their schedule.
Chelsea, who are not currently directly affected by any Covid suspension despite wanting to postpone the Wolverhampton match, have their own set of matches to face due to their participation in the Club World Cup.
Chelsea could go nearly a month without playing a Premier League match due to the tournament in the United Arab Emirates between February 3-12. Chelsea’s trip to Brighton on February 8 and the return leg with Arsenal on February 12 are scheduled to be rearranged, with matches to be played later in the season.
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