THE Premier League postponed Burnley's game against Watford on Wednesday after a COVID-19 outbreak in the visiting team as the possibility of festive fixture chaos loomed.
Earlier on Wednesday, Leicester City said they had a request to postpone Thursday's game against Tottenham Hotspur rejected by the league, as English football continues to face potential disruption from the spread of COVID and the Omicron variant.
The decision to call off the match at Turf Moor came just two and a half hours before the scheduled kickoff time.
"The decision was taken following guidance from medical advisers due to an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak within Watford’s squad. As a result, the club has an insufficient number of First Team players available to fulfil the match," the Premier League said in a statement.
The Premier League's rules state that if a team cannot raise 14 players then a game can be postponed although other factors, such as impact on preparation and whether or not there has been an 'uncontrollable outbreak' are also taken into account.
"In considering any application to postpone, the Board considers a range of sporting and medical factors. Each decision is taken on a case-by-case basis with everyone’s health of utmost importance," the league added.
Manchester United's scheduled game at Brentford on Tuesday was postponed after United closed their training ground due to COVID cases.
Tottenham Hotspur's Europa Conference League game against French club Rennes on Dec. 10 was also called off after a COVID outbreak in the Spurs camp.
In England's second tier Championship, Saturday's matches between Reading and Luton Town and Millwall and Preston North End have been postponed because of cases of the coronavirus.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said his team had nine players out due to COVID-19 and "other medical issues", adding that the integrity of the competition is at stake in what is a "testing time of the year" with teams often playing at least twice a week.
"Unfortunately for us, we weren't granted any dispensation, which was disappointing," Rodgers told reporters on Wednesday.
"We've wanted to support the measures, but when we wanted support for the extreme situation we were in, it's disappointing not to get the support. We were touch and go for the Newcastle (United) game.
"We have had injuries since then, because we can't rotate the squad because of COVID. It's a really challenging time for us.
"We've got five games in 13 days, it's a challenging fixture list when you have a full squad, but with the numbers we have, it's extremely challenging."
The league said on Monday that between Dec. 6-12, 3,805 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19 with 42 new positive cases discovered -- the highest weekly figure since data began being reported in May 2020.
Spurs also have issues of their own with manager Antonio Conte saying only 16 players, including youngsters, trained on Wednesday.
Tottenham's training ground has now re-opened to the first team, but Conte said it has been a difficult period.
"We had Thursday, Friday and Saturday without any sessions. Sunday we started again to work with not many players, because we also had problems with U23s," the Italian said.
STRICTER PROTOCOLS
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp gave his backing to efforts to encourage widespread vaccination and the return of stricter COVID protocols across football.
"The whole vaccination thing is a massive question of loyalty, solidarity and togetherness. We have a chance to help not only ourselves but other people as well," said the German, ahead of his team's match on Thursday against Newcastle United.
"It is important to support the measures... The vaccination status of the team is quite good. Hopefully we can do it with the whole team," he said.
The Premier League last released data on vaccination levels of players in mid-October saying 81% of players had received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose with 68% double vaccinated.
The league has reverted to 'emergency measures' put in place earlier in the pandemic with daily lateral flow testing and twice weekly PCR tests.
While there has been no move to limit crowd sizes, supporters will be denied entrance to stadiums if they cannot produce their COVID pass, showing fully vaccinated status, or a negative test result from within the previous 48 hours.
Spot checks will take place outside grounds with around 20% of fans expected to be asked for proof of their COVID status. (Additional reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru and Martyn Herman in London Editing by Christian Radnedge and Toby Davis)
Reuters
Thu Dec 16 2021
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers, Premier League - Leicester City v Newcastle United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 12, 2021 - REUTERS/Peter Powell
Perkembangan letupan Gunung Ruang, tindakan seterusnya?
Bersama ditalian, Susan Margaret, Ketua Biro Kompas TV Manado.
Pembantu kedai telefon mengaku tidak bersalah sebabkan kematian OKU
Lim Guan Yan membuat pengakuan itu selepas pertuduhan ke atasnya dibacakan di hadapan Majistret Suhaila Shafi'uddin.
Pengarang, penerbit Astro AWANI syukur dipilih tunai haji tahun ini
Dua pengarang Astro AWANI, Dr Azlinariah Abdullah dan Azlinda Md Salim antara 14 petugas media yang bakal terbang ke Tanah Suci untuk membuat liputan musim haji dan menunaikan ibadah berkenaan.
Microsoft umum pelaburan AI, awan bernilai USD2.2 bilion di Malaysia
Bersama ditalian, Pengarah Institut Kajian Malaysia dan Antarabangsa (IKMAS) UKM, Prof. Dr Sufian Jusoh.
BPT SPRM berperanan kesan kelompongan, ketirisan dalam organisasi
Bahagian Penyiasatan Tatakelola (BPT) SPRM berperanan menjalankan siasatan bagi mengesan kelompongan dalam tatacara kerja dan mengurangkan ketirisan dalam organisasi.
Pelaburan Microsoft AS$2.2 bilion: Bukti keyakinan global kepada Malaysia - PM
Malaysia menyambut baik keputusan pelaburan dibuat Microsoft bernilai AS$2.2 bilion (RM10.5 bilion).
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata jumlah ini adalah pelaburan terbesar pada satu-satu masa oleh Microsoft setelah 32 tahun bertapak di Malaysia.
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata jumlah ini adalah pelaburan terbesar pada satu-satu masa oleh Microsoft setelah 32 tahun bertapak di Malaysia.
Lelaki warga emas ditemui maut di kawasan kebun getah
Seorang lelaki warga emas yang dilaporkan hilang ketika keluar mencari daun palas Isnin lepas, ditemukan meninggal dunia di kawasan kebun getah di Kampung Guar Sanai, Beseri, Padang Besa, semalam.
AWANI Ringkas: Protest bertembung dengan kumpulan pro-Israel
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Banyak usaha Kerajaan Perpaduan bantu masyarakat India - Fahmi
Menteri Komunikasi Fahmi Fadzil berkata banyak usaha dilakukan Kerajaan Perpaduan untuk membantu masyarakat India.
Kemalangan dua treler di lebuh raya, semua lorong arah utara terhalang
Susulan kemalangan itu menyebabkan semua lorong arah utara terhalang dan trafik dilencongkan ke Plaza Tol Kuala Kangsar.
EPL: Bruno Fernandes beri bayangan tinggalkan Manchester United
"Jika saya perlu berfikir untuk tidak terus berada di EPL maka ia tidak akan berlaku sehingga selepas saingan EURO nanti."
EPL: Man United sama hebat dengan skuad tercorot liga
Penjaga gol Manchester United, Andre Onana menjadi punca buat pasukannya kehilangan kemenangan menentang Burnley.
EPL: "Ada sesiapa jangka kami bakal muncul juara?"
Klopp belum sedia nilai musim terakhir bersama Liverpool.
EPL: Manchester City himpit Arsenal
Gawang The Seagulls robek lagi kali ini menerusi bintang meningkat naik Phil Foden dengan gol pada minit ke-26 dan 34.
EPL: Pertahan teman wanita, Rice buktikan masih wujud lelaki budiman
Pemain tengah Arsenal Declan Rice memuji teman wanita Lauren Fryer dan mempertahankannya selepas beberapa kumpulan pembenci memalukannya.
Van Dijk mahu pemain Liverpool lihat cermin
Gol setiap babak bermula dengan minit ke-27 diikuti minit ke-58 juga menyaksikan peluang Liverpool untuk merangkul kejuaraan EPL semakin samar.
EPL: Dua bintang remaja ditahan kerana disyaki merogol
Dua pemain bola sepak Liga Perdana Inggeris telah ditangkap pada hujung minggu kerana disyaki merogol dan melakukan serangan.
EPL: Ten Hag anggap reaksi ke atas kemenangan MU umpama 'penghinaan'
Kemenangan yang diraih MU bukan sesautu yang memalukan, reaksi sesetengah pihak berlebihan, bidas Ten Hag.
EPL: Kai Havertz pastikan Arsenal menang bergaya tewaskan Chelsea
Kemenangan itu meletakkan Arsenal tiga mata di hadapan Liverpool yang kini berada di tangga kedua dengan bermain lebih satu perlawanan.
Perkara mungkin berbeza di Man Utd andai Mourinho terima sokongan seperti Ten Hag
Jose Mourinho percaya kerjayanya di Manchester United mungkin lebih berjaya sekiranya dia diberi kepercayaan yang sama seperti Erik ten Hag.