Sam Allardyce wants to break the football circuit to combat the increase in positive cases of Covid-19 | Football news

Sam Allardyce has revealed that West Brom had a positive coronavirus test this week and has called for a pause in soccer action to combat the increase in cases in the game.

The Premier League announced its highest number of positive cases on Tuesday since it began weekly testing in May, with 18 of 1,479 tests positive.

Manchester City’s game at Everton on Monday was postponed four hours before kickoff due to an outbreak at City, while Fulham’s game at Tottenham on Wednesday is in doubt due to positive cases at the Cottagers team.

The English Football League (EFL) has also been severely affected by game postponements due to coronavirus outbreaks in clubs.

It is understood that there are no plans for the Premier League to halt the current season, but Allardyce, speaking after West Brom’s 5-0 home loss to Leeds United, said: “Everyone’s safety is more important than any another thing.

“When I listen to the news, the variant virus spreads faster than the original virus [so] We can only do the right thing, which is to have a circuit break.

“I am 66 years old and the last thing I want to do is catch Covid. I am very worried about myself and about football in general. If that’s the thing to do, we have to do it.”

“We had a positive one this week and it seems to be moving forward no matter how hard we try.”

Solskjaer: I don’t see the benefits of a two week break

Speaking after Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Wolves on Tuesday night, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer questioned the logistics of implementing a two-week break in an already packed Premier League calendar, with the European Championship taking hold. next summer is looming to prevent the season from extending as it was in 2019/20.

“It is not something that I have thought much about. I think our players have been very good at following the protocols and the rules,” Solskjaer said.

“That’s part of the job here, that we as clubs follow the given protocols. I don’t see the benefit of having a circuit interruption, whatever it’s called.

“Because when are we going to play the games? We all know that this year is very difficult, but I don’t think stopping the games is going to be a big change.”

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Dyche: The club’s protocols are very strict

Burnley coach Sean Dyche is confident that his players are working within “very strict” protocols to limit the spread of the coronavirus when they are at the club, but that they have yet to “live their lives” away from football.

“We have established protocols and everyone has tried to align with the protocols,” Dyche said. “But that doesn’t stop it all, you still have to put your hand on a keyboard or whatever when you have gas.

“The players still have to live their lives, they still have to operate in a way that is within the rules and guidelines; the ones we have within the camp are very strict but the players have lives.

“They have families and they tell us that (the virus) is everywhere so we can only stay within the guidelines, I just hope it stays out of football to the best of its ability. If the numbers keep increasing, we will have to deal with that. “. that accordingly. “

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Sheffield United confirms ‘number of positive tests’

Sheffield United confirmed that they had registered several positive coronavirus tests after their latest round of testing.

Blades boss Chris Wilder revealed before his 1-0 loss at Burnley that the club had seen “a couple” of players and “four or five backroom employees” test positive.

Wilder’s starting lineup was unaffected, with only one change from the previous game, Oliver Burke fell to the bench, but was only able to name seven of nine possible substitutes.

Wilder said neither he nor the club expected to delay the game.

“It is not an ideal situation, but I do not think we are a club of one. (The virus) is increasing and it is increasing in football clubs,” he said.

“We have just notified the relevant authorities that we have had a situation at the football club. But I want to play football. That’s right, we are not looking for anything canned. We did the right thing in terms of our responsibility to the Premier League and notified them about the players who are sick. “

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Premier League postponements: what the league guide says

The Premier League board took medical advice into consideration when making the decision to postpone City’s game against Everton. Decisions to reorganize the games are only in “exceptional” circumstances and are judged “on a case-by-case basis,” says the Premier League, which maintains its medical protocols are sound.

Guidance issued to clubs in the 2020/21 Premier League Manual is that “permission to postpone a League match will not be granted when the requesting club has 14 or more players on its roster of available teams.”

The final decision is always made by the Premier League Board.

Previous Premier League test results this season

• Round 1: August 31-September 6: 1,605 tests, three of which were positive.
• Round 2: 7-13 September: 2,131 tests, four of them positive.
• Round 3: September 14-20: 1,574 tests, three of them positive.
• Round 4: September 21-27: 1,595 tests, 10 positive.
• Round 5: September 28 to October 4: 1,587 tests, nine of them positive.
• Round 6: October 5-11: 1,128 tests, five of them positive.
• Round 7: October 12-18: 1,575 tests, eight of which were positive.
• Round 8: October 19-25: 1,609 tests, two positive.
• Round 9: October 26 to November 1: 1,446 tests, four of them positive.
• Round 10: November 2-8: 1,646 tests, four positive.
• Round 11: November 9-15: 1,207 tests, 16 positive.
• Round 12: November 16-22: 1,530 tests, eight of them positive.
• Round 13: November 23-29: 1,381 tests, 10 positive.
• Round 14: November 30 to December 6: 1,483 tests with 14 positives.
• Round 15: Dec 7-13 – 1,549 tested positive and six tested positive.
• Round 16: December 14-20: 1,569 tests with seven positive results.
• Round 17: December 21-27: 1,479 tests with 18 positives.