It is the second Premier League match to be
postponed due to Covid this week after Manchester City's visit to Everton on
Monday fell foul to several positive tests at the Etihad Stadium club.
Fulham said ‘a number’ of players and
first-team staff had returned positive tests and the entire group is now set to
be retested immediately, with those who are positive set to isolate in line
with Premier League and Government guidelines.
The decision will increase pressure on the
top flight for a two-week 'circuit breaker' – backed by West Brom boss Sam
Allardyce on Tuesday – but in a statement the Premier League insisted it was
confident of completing its remaining fixtures as scheduled.
Confirming the postponement, a Premier
League spokesperson said: “Fulham lodged a request with the Premier League
Board to rearrange the fixture following a significant rise in positive
COVID-19 cases, as well as a number of players showing symptoms today.
"The Premier League Board has
consulted its medical advisors and the decision to postpone the game has been
taken as a precaution and with the health of players and staff as the priority.
The group will now be retested immediately.
“With low numbers of positive tests across
the overwhelming majority of clubs, the Premier League continues to have full
confidence in its COVID-19 protocols and being able to continue to play our
fixtures as scheduled.”
The League said the fixture would be
rearranged “in due course”.
The final decision on Wednesday's London
derby was made by the Premier League board, with both clubs in the dark until
just over three hours before kick-off.
In a statement, Spurs said: “The Premier
League informed us of the decision this afternoon, with Fulham having requested
the postponement on the grounds of the number of COVID-19 positive cases among
their players and staff. Details of a new date for the fixture will be
confirmed in due course."
The Premier League announced 18 positive
tests last week – the most since the testing programme began – with City,
Arsenal and the Blades also confirming positive cases this week.
Clubs have not discussed the prospect of a
two-week 'circuit breaker', in which all matches would be postponed to allow
outbreaks to come under control, while managers are in disagreement over the
wisdom of halting the season.
"I am 66 years old and the last thing
I want to do is catch Covid," said Allardyce after West Brom’s 5-0 defeat
at Leeds on Tuesday. "I'm very concerned for myself and football in
general. If that's what needs to be done we need to do it."
Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
has said he "can't see the benefit" of a circuit breaker.
Fulham manager Scott Parker missed his
side's goalless draw with Southampton on Boxing Day after a member of his
household tested positive for coronavirus but tested negative on Sunday,
ensuring he was able to return to the training ground at the start of this week
following a period of self-isolation.
Sheffield United's game at Burnley on
Monday went ahead, despite "a couple" of Blades players and
"half a dozen" staff returning positive tests.
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