In total, 18 games were postponed between the first four categories of English football for this Sunday.
Two games postponed: the Boxing Day on Sunday, perhaps the most significant date in the Premier League, is in turn disturbed by the resurgence of COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant in Great Britain.
It’s one of the most festive moments of the season in England: one day after Christmas, players and spectators come together to celebrate football in a colorful, Christmas-like atmosphere.
But the 2021 edition of Boxing Day she was amputated this Thursday from two games, one of them in the mythical Anfield between the Liverpool and Leeds.
Despite the high vaccination rate, the Leeds regretted the positive tests of five players, to which is added a long list of injured, which means that Marcelo Bielsa’s team does not reach the 13 players available and one goalkeeper, a limit set by the Premier.
“We will not have enough first-team players to meet the demands of the Premier League,” lamented Leeds, who are ranked 16th in the table.
The Watford, for his part, that he should go to Wolverhampton, he was forced to cancel his trip after having had to postpone their two previous games, against Burnley and Crystal Palace.
These two postponements added to the other ten in the last two weeks.
Total 18 games were postponed among the top four categories of English football in this Boxing Day.
Refused a stoppage of the tournament
The Everton He had also asked to postpone his game against Burnley, but his request was rejected despite 11 absences among the Toffies. “We have six injured and five players sick with covid”, revealed the club’s coach Rafael Benítez. “I think it’s not fair,” he opined.
But the Premier League clubs rejected in a meeting held earlier in the week temporarily stop the competition.
This crisis occurs at a crucial period of the season in England, both sportingly and economically, in view of the high attendance of the public expected for the three dates scheduled between December 26 and January 3.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and his Tottenham counterpart Antonio Conte called for a reduction to one match in the Liverpool-Arsenal and Tottenham-Chelsea English League Cup semi-finals, scheduled for early January. , thus releasing the overloaded calendar.
Last year, the English League Cup semi-finals were reduced to a single match due to the pandemic.
Premier League will continue into Christmas despite wave of COVID-19 positives in clubs
The Spurs, seventh in the Premier League, are three games behind linked to bad weather conditions and the coronavirus pandemic in the bosom of cash.
“It would be better to play one game instead of two, especially in the current context, but we respect the rules,” reacted Italian Tottenham coach Antonio Conte.
Measurements in Wales and Scotland
In the Premier League, 84% of players have already received at least one dose of anticovid vaccine according to the statement published by the League at the beginning of the week. That rate rises to 92% if club staff are added.
In England, no restrictions have been put in place to reduce the reception capacity of the public, but fans must provide proof of vaccination or show a negative test carried out in the previous 48 hours.
The neighboring nations, Wales and Scotland have established restrictive measures, designed to combat the re-emergence of cases.
In Wales, sporting events will take place without an audience from the 26th, while in Scotland a capacity of 500 people was established for outdoor competitions. (D)
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