Premier
League clubs have agreed on new postponement guidance that says teams will
have to show four positive COVID-19 cases in order to apply to have a match
called off.
The guidance change comes after a series of controversial decisions to call
off matches, with clubs using a combination of coronavirus, injuries,
suspensions and players on international duty to postpone games.
There have been 22 match postponements due to coronavirus and other factors
in the Premier League this season.
The last match to be called off was Arsenal's controversial postponement
against Spurs, which drew criticism from their north London rivals.
It was announced on Monday that the number of positive Covid-19 cases in the
Premier League had fallen for the fourth week in a row.
In the seven days up to and including January 23, there were just 16 new
cases among players and staff, from 6,221 tests - the lowest number of
positives in a week since December 5.
The new guidance will come into effect ahead of the next Premier League
fixture on Saturday, February 5 when Burnley host Watford.
Analysis: Change in guidance, not rules
Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett:
"This is a change to the guidance around match postponements, not a change
in the rules.
"The rules still apply that if clubs have 13 outfield players and a
goalkeeper fit and available, the game should go ahead. We understand there
was some reluctance from clubs to change the rules mid-season.
"Sky Sports News has been told the new guidance is there to help steer the
discretion displayed by the Premier League board, when they receive an
application for postponement, and to discourage clubs from applying for
postponements on the basis of non-Covid-related absences.
"In essence, Wednesday's decision has raised the bar in terms of the number
of Covid cases required to get a match postponed. Before now, a single
positive Covid case in a squad was justification for applying for a
postponement (if other players were absent because of injury or
international duty).
"Now, a club must prove a minimum of four positive Covid cases within the
first-team squad to even apply.
"Each application for postponement will still be assessed on its individual
circumstances.
"The clubs chose not to change the Covid protocols around stadiums and
training grounds, which are still under 'emergency measures'. That means
Premier League players will be still tested daily and remain in secure
bubbles.
"This will be reviewed on a weekly basis.
"It's expected these measures will be relaxed somewhat after any impact is
assessed from players returning to their clubs after AFCON, and holidays
taken by other players during the current winter break."
Neville and Carragher critical of
postponements
Earlier this month, Premier League defenders Gary Neville and Jamie
Carragher were both in agreement that England's top clubs must stop using
coronavirus as an excuse to postpone games.
"I honestly believe that all teams, not just in the Premier League but the
EFL now, must be made to play their fixtures," said Neville.
"If it was purely down to Covid in extraordinary circumstances where there
was 10 or 15 players out, but we're now talking about teams for the last few
weeks where there's no doubt they've been calling games off based upon
whether they think they've got the best squad or team to win a game. It's
got to stop.
"Manchester United and other teams have got 30 to 40 players in their squad
- I'm not having they can't get 13 to 16 players together.
"It has to stop now this and we have to make teams play."
Carragher said: "No other league in Europe is doing this, certainly not in
those big leagues. Bayern Munich played a 16-year-old in their last game and
that tells you exactly where they are. Why can't we do that? Why can't the
young players be given an opportunity in these circumstances?
"Everyone's in the same boat and I'm exactly with Gary. If it's an outbreak
of Covid and it's decimated the squad I can understand that, but players
being in the AFCON tournament and just normal injuries, that's got nothing
to do with it.
"You've got U23 squads and younger players, and this is an opportunity where
they can get a chance.
"I know there's a lot riding on Premier League games but at this moment
there's no doubt teams up and down this country are taking advantage of the
situation."
Tuchel and Hasenhuttl speak out on Covid
rules
Asked if he felt Covid rules were being abused earlier this month, Chelsea
head coach Thomas Tuchel said: "I strongly, strongly hope that's not the
case, otherwise I would be very angry.
Thomas Tuchel says he will be 'very angry' if Covid rules are being abused
by other clubs after Chelsea were told they had to play a match when they
felt they were stretched during the Christmas fixtures
"We are doing everything to make games happen and we were made to play when
we thought maybe we should not. So, I can only strongly hope the rules are
the same for everybody."
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl was also strong on the lack of
transparency for postponements and how the Premier League is dealing with
it.
Earlier this month, he said: "They've opened the door, and you cannot be
surprised that someone is walking through now. I cannot say anything about
the Covid situation there because this is normally the reason why you cancel
games.
"You have no view, no transparency, and you cannot say anything about that.
The rest is speculation.
"The Premier League has to handle this. This is why I say that players/new
signings shouldn't be allowed to play in cancelled games when they haven't
been there before this game was due to play. This is a problem they have and
it's hard to solve it at the moment."
Which Premier League games have been
called off?
Brighton vs Tottenham - Sunday December 12, Premier League (due to snow)
Brentford vs Man Utd - Tuesday December 14, Premier League (replayed on
January 19)
Burnley vs Watford - Wednesday December 15, Premier League (postponed twice
- now February 5 at 6pm)
Leicester vs Tottenham - Thursday December 16, Premier League (replayed on
January 19)
Man Utd vs Brighton - Saturday December 18, Premier League
Southampton vs Brentford - Saturday December 18, Premier League (replayed on
January 11)
Watford vs Crystal Palace - Saturday December 18, Premier League
West Ham vs Norwich - Saturday December 18, Premier League (replayed on
January 12)
Aston Villa vs Burnley - Saturday December 18, Premier League
Everton vs Leicester - Sunday December 19, Premier League (postponed twice)
Liverpool vs Leeds - Sunday December 26, Premier League
Wolves vs Watford - Sunday December 26, Premier League
Burnley vs Everton - Sunday December 26, Premier League
Leeds vs Aston Villa - Tuesday December 28, Premier League
Arsenal vs Wolves - Tuesday December 28, Premier League
Everton vs Newcastle - Thursday December 30, Premier League
Leicester vs Norwich - Saturday January 1, Premier League
Southampton vs Newcastle - Sunday January 2, Premier League
Burnley vs Leicester - Saturday January 15, Premier League
Tottenham vs Arsenal - Sunday January 16, Premier League
Burnley vs Watford - Tuesday January 18, Premier League
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