Premier League chiefs are determined not to shut down the season despite clubs holding secret meetings about taking a ‘ coronavirus break’.
A number of clubs have discussed a two-week temporary halt next month as the football is in serious danger of descending into farce.
The Premier League announced yesterday a record number of positive tests, with 18 detected in the week between Monday December 21 and Sunday, December 27.
But League bosses have no intention of suspending the season – despite a spike in Covid-19 causing chaos throughout the game.
Government chiefs have also offered reassurance that there are no plans to stop top flight football or elite sport despite the rise in cases and Premier bosses are confident the season will remain on track.
Manchester City were forced to postpone Monday night’s clash at Everton following an outbreak of the pandemic in the club’s first team bubble.
City fear their season could be derailed with further positive cases among their players and staff.
City carried out tests on all of their squad, coaching staff and first-team support staff at their training ground yesterday, with the results due back today.
If, as expected, further positive cases are confirmed, City’s Premier League game at Chelsea on Sunday will be called off, leading to more fixture pile-up for the Blues.
Sheffield United joined Manchester City in reporting an outbreak after a “number of cases” prior to their Premier League clash with Burnley which still went ahead,
Not long after it was revealed that Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuttl would be managing his club’s clash with West Ham last night from home after a member of his household tested positive.
And it is also understood there have been positives in the Fulham camp, although Tottenham are fully expecting Wednesday night’s game to go ahead.
The Premier League remain convinced that their protocols are working and, despite the rise in cases, that their games are safe. There is also no room in the already busy Premier League fixture schedule to rearrange games.
The bigger concern is now for the EFL as mass postponements in the FA Cup third round could also cause chaos and there is not as much testing or protocols in place as the top flight.
The record high number of Premier League tests was 18 from 1,479 players and staff tested which they insist is still a very small proportion and only two games – Newcastle against Aston Villa and City’s trip to Everton – have been postponed since the restart in June.
