Premier League season at risk after more coronavirus cases detected
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A Premier League match on Wednesday match between Tottenham and Fulham has been postponed following a number of positive coronavirus cases from players and staff members.
Why it matters: This is the third Premier League match to be postponed this season and the second this week, after a Monday game between Everton and Manchester City was called off due to an outbreak.
The big picture: The league does not have a contingency plan to restrict its 2020/2021 season if cases continue to persist, ESPN reports.
- According to the Telegraph, some Premier League chairmen have privately discussed the possibility of halting the season for two weeks in January to help the situation "cool off."
- Talks between the clubs and the Premier League in the summer resulted in an agreement that ending the season prematurely would be a last resort, according to ESPN.
What they're saying: "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 said in a statement.
- "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."
- "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."
Worth noting: Cases in the U.K. have continued to surge, with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing on Wednesday that Tier 4 lockdown measures will be implemented in more regions across England.
- The U.K. was the first country to report a new variant of the virus that appears to be more transmissible.
