The Premier League has outlined its intention to “continue its current fixture schedule where safely possible”, despite the Covid crisis causing chaos.
Five matches have been postponed in the past five days and the Premier League is under pressure to suspend the season amid the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant.
Tottenham’s trip to Leicester was called off six hours before kick-off on Thursday and Manchester United’s game at Brighton on Saturday has also been postponed.
It follows Watford’s trip to Burnley being called off just two and a half hours before kick-off on Wednesday.
Manchester United’s game against Brentford on Tuesday was postponed and last Sunday’s match between Spurs and Brighton also fell victim to Covid.
Chelsea’s game with Everton on Thursday is still due to go ahead despite fresh cases of Covid among the first-team squad at Stamford Bridge.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has called for all this weekend’s Premier League fixtures to be postponed.
But the Premier League said in a statement: “While recognising a number of clubs are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, it is the League’s intention to continue its current fixture schedule where safely possible. The health and wellbeing of all concerned remains our priority.”
Frank called for a circuit-breaker, which would include next week’s Carabao Cup ties, to allow clubs to deal with outbreaks.
“Covid cases are going through the roof at all Premier League clubs,” Frank said.
“To postpone this round and also the Carabao Cup [on Tuesday and Wednesday] would give everyone a week at least, or four or five days, to clean and do everything at the training ground, so you break the chain.”
