Premier League Continues Despite Covid Cases Outbreak

Premier League chiefs have resolved not to shut down the season, despite calls from a number of clubs to introduce a two-week 'circuit-breaker' lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

kdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

A number of clubs have suffered outbreaks within their bubbles which is causing chaos within the league with fears that a spike in positive cases could see the issue spiral out of control.

However, with teams already facing a jam-packed fixture list, the option to postpone and rearrange two weeks worth of games will prove to be extremely difficult ahead of this summer's rearranged Euro 2020.

Premier League bosses have no intention of suspending the season, despite announcing on Tuesday that a record number of positive tests were returned, with 18 detected in the week between Monday, December 21 and Sunday, December 27.

It is the highest number of positive outcomes in the league since Project Restart. The previous highest was when 16 tested positive in November.

As revealed by Sportsmail, the Government has held talks with football authorities amid the increasing number of positive tests as a new strain of the virus sweeps the country.

Government officials offered Premier League clubs reassurance that football in the top flight would be able to continue, given their constant testing of players and staff, while the success of Project Restart helped prove the action can continue in a safe enough manner.

However, talk of a break in the schedule comes after at least five Manchester City players tested positive for the virus, forcing the postponement of their trip to Everton earlier this week and leaving Sunday's game with Chelsea in jeopardy.

All City's players and staff have been re-tested with the club set to announce the full extent of positive cases within their camp on Wednesday afternoon.

If the number of positives has increased, it will only strengthen calls for the season to be suspended, causing a significant pile-up of fixtures for City and other clubs well into the new year.

Gary Neville believes a two-week shutdown to curb a spike in positive Covid-19 cases among players and coaches wouldn't solve the issue - and Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is of the same opinion.

West Brom manager Sam Allardyce spoke in favour of a fortnight's pause to try and stop the spread of the virus after 18 positive cases in the top-flight but Sky Sports pundit Neville disagrees.

Neville tweeted: 'Football has proven through the last 6 months it can operate safely. It was right to be cautious and concerned through the first lockdown when the virus was new and unknown.

'It shouldn't stop now in my opinion. This virus isn't going anywhere in 2-4 weeks!!' 

It has since emerged that Wednesday night's game between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham is in doubt after a number of positive cases at the west London club.

Informal talks about a two-week 'circuit-breaker' pause in the Premier League season have been held but Solskjaer is concerned about the knock-on effects.

'It's not something I've thought about a lot. I think our players have been really good in following protocols and rules,' Solskjaer said after United's 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Manchester City’s clash at Everton on Monday night was called off, following an outbreak of the pandemic in the club’s first team bubble.

If further positive cases are confirmed, City’s game at Chelsea on Sunday will also be postponed, leading to more fixture pile-up for the Blues.

 

December 30, 2020