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The Premier League has declined to speak of a ‘cooling off period’ or ‘breaker’ in January, even though Tottenham vs Fulham is the second game this week postponed due to a coronavirus outbreak.
The Premier League board’s decision followed the postponement of Manchester City’s match at Everton on Monday following an outbreak at the Etihad Stadium club, though Burnley vs Sheffield United went ahead, despite a “pair” of Blades players. and “half a dozen” staff members. giving positive.
Clubs will reportedly discuss the reflection period, during which all matches would be postponed, although the proposal has not been discussed so far.
In a statement confirming the postponement of Wednesday’s London derby, the Premier League made it clear that it is not in favor of a temporary break and said it had full faith in its Covid-19 protocols and in its ability to comply with matches. remaining as scheduled, and later added that the League “has not discussed pausing the season and has no plans to do so.”
“With a low number of positive tests in the vast majority of clubs, the Premier League continues to have full confidence in its COVID-19 protocols and in being able to continue playing our games as scheduled,” said a Premier League spokesperson.
The statement added: “Fulham FC’s game at Tottenham Hotspur, to be played at 6pm tonight, has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting this afternoon.
“Fulham filed a request with the Premier League Board to reorganize the match following a significant increase in positive Covid-19 cases, as well as a number of players showing symptoms today.
“The Premier League Board has consulted their medical advisers and the decision to postpone the match has been taken as a precaution and with the health of the players and staff as a priority. The group will now be reassessed immediately.
“The League wishes those with Covid-19 a quick and safe recovery and will reorganize the postponed match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham in due course.”
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There were 18 positive cases in the top flight in the latest round of testing, the highest since the start of the pandemic, and City, Arsenal and the Blades also confirmed positive cases.
The League has increased testing to twice a week in Level 4 areas in an attempt to control the spread of the virus.
West Brom manager Sam Allardyce has endorsed a circuit breaker and said after his team’s loss in Leeds on Tuesday: “When I hear the news, the variant virus spreads faster than the original virus, 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.”
However, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he “does not see the benefit” of a break, while Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta said he would support any measure that protects “the well-being of players, staff and everyone. in the industry”. .
The Premier League said a new date for Spurs-Fulham would be announced ‘in due course’, but the top flight is already in the middle of the week to reschedule the match and the situation will get worse if either club achieves a deep run in the FA Cup.
