Premier League clubs to discuss options around Covid-19 pandemic
Image credit: Evening Standard
Premier League clubs will gather on Monday to discuss the coronavirus pandemic’s mounting problems. Clubs want the opportunity to examine their options after nine games were postponed in the last week, including five from this weekend’s 10-match schedule.
Thomas Frank, the Brentford manager, has spearheaded requests for all matches to be postponed until December 26 to allow for a reset.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta stated that clubs require clarity on the situation.
In the meantime, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has cancelled his news conference to focus on his team’s upcoming match against Newcastle United.
On Friday (12:30 GMT), City’s manager was scheduled to speak to the media about Sunday’s match.
Guardiola had an inconclusive coronavirus test and is waiting for the results of a second PCR test.
Guardiola revealed on Monday that certain City employees had tested positive, but his team was able to play against Leeds in the Premier League on Tuesday, which they won 7-0.
The Women’s Super League match between Manchester City and Reading, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, has also been postponed.
The Premier League announced on Thursday that it will continue to play games as long as it is safe to do so.
The discussion will not be focused only on match cancellations and whether or not there will be a break. There are also concerns about rescheduling games that have been postponed previously.
Furthermore, there are concerns about the player release for the African Cup of Nations next month and the January World Cup qualifiers, which will include every continent except Europe.
Uefa’s publication of the Nations League dates on Friday highlighted the problems with the overcrowded game schedule.
There are just two entirely clear midweeks until the end of the season, including European matches, EFL Cup semi-finals, FA Cup fifth-round replays, and previous round replays.
Those midweeks were planned to be used for matches that had to be rescheduled due to teams reaching the final stages of domestic cup competitions with dates that coincided with league fixtures.