Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur is the latest Premier League fixture to be postponed, the fourth in a week.
The match at the King Power will not go ahead on Thursday night after a U-turn from top flight chiefs following talks on Thursday morning. Spurs were told of the postponement shortly before midday.
A Leicester City statement read: "Leicester City can confirm that the Premier League Board has decided to postpone Thursday night’s fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.
"The decision was taken with guidance from medical advisors after the Club resubmitted its application for postponement after confirmation this morning (Thursday) of further positive tests for COVID-19 within the first team squad.
"As a result, the Club has an insufficient number of First Team players available to fulfil the match. Given the increase in positive tests among First Team personnel, First Team operations at Seagrave will now be closed for 48 hours, serving as a circuit breaker to help reduce the risk of further infection.
"First team players and staff will undergo a subsequent round of testing on Saturday. The Club regrets the inconvenience caused to Tottenham Hotspur and both sets of supporters by Thursday night’s postponement."
Interestingly, before Thursday’s official announcement, both sides had previously failed in their appeals to the Premier League to have the match cancelled.
Brendan Rodgers revealed on Wednesday that the Foxes had sought a postponement as they expected to be without 11 players due to Covid and illness-related issues; that number has since rised, with two fresh Covid cases reported.
Asked whether he wanted the game called off, he said on Wednesday: “We’ve looked at that. Unfortunately for us, we weren’t granted any dispensation, which was disappointing.
“We are a team and a club who have always wanted to support all measures and everything else but maybe when you need that bit of support with the extreme situation that we were in, we were not able to get that which was disappointing," he stated.
"We were touch and go for the Newcastle game. We’ve picked up a couple of injuries as well, that are COVID related because we can’t rotate the team. We’ll put out the best team we can.”
Rodgers would also blast Premier League bosses, accusing them of bowing to pressure from broadcasters after rejecting numerous calls to postpone matches.
Asked whether the Premier League's lucrative TV contracts had influenced their stance, Rodgers said: “I’m pretty sure that's the case, yes.
“In terms of players, managers and coaches, we all want to play the games. But ultimately the health of a player is the priority. If you have players available, you get a better product.”
Rodgers also indicated he believes the Premier League's more powerful clubs are being treated differently.
Spurs had also attempted to have the match moved to a later date.
Antonio Conte revealed that the Premier League had rejected their appeal, as they sought to re-arranged their Europa League fixture with Rennes.
On Spurs’ Covid situation, Conte added: “The situation has not changed so much. Players are back in training and other players are continuing to be selected. Those players who are back in training they need time to find the right physical condition.
“The Covid is not only 10 days and many times he brings with this virus a situation that you make your body not so strong. For this reason you have players injured after Covid.”
