Burnley’s game against Everton on December 26 is the last game in the Premier League to be postponed due to a coronavirus outbreak, it was announced Friday. In the case of Covid-19 cases in the Everton camp, the Merseysiders had asked for a postponement on Thursday. But that initial plea was rejected despite Everton manager Rafael Benitez saying he had just nine fit outfield players available for the Boxing Day game, traditionally one of the busiest days on the English football calendar.
However, Everton said on Friday that the game had been cancelled, with a club statement saying: “Our Premier League match at Burnley on Boxing Day has been postponed due to the number of COVID cases and injuries on our squad.”
The Premier League added it had made the “deplorable” decision to postpone the game after a board meeting on Friday.
“The board today reviewed the club’s request to postpone the game due to further injuries to their team.
“They have concluded that the club will not be able to fulfill their game this weekend due to an insufficient number of players available to play due to Covid-19 cases and injuries.”
A total of 13 matches have now been canceled in the past two weeks as Britain battles record numbers of positive Covid cases due to the Omicron variant of the virus.
Benitez said on Thursday he was “surprised” that Everton’s game was expected to go ahead after two other Boxing Days – Liverpool – Leeds and Wolves – Watford – were postponed due to Covid cases.
“talking to a wall”
Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte said Thursday’s meeting between the Premier League and all 20 top bosses to discuss the escalating Covid situation affecting the top flight of English football was a waste of time.
The virtual meeting was intended to allow managers to express concerns about an overcrowded playlist after Premier League clubs decided to go ahead with the scheduled program rather than pause the season.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola suggested football authorities would only address welfare concerns if the players went on strike.
But as union action seemed highly unlikely, Conte said talks with the Premier League were akin to talking to a wall.
“If I have to be honest, it was a meeting where we tried to talk and tried to talk to some coaches, to ask for solutions, but I think everything is decided,” Conte said on Friday.
“I think it was a wall yesterday (Thursday) and that’s why I prefer not to go into it.”
The Italian, who asked at a press conference if the talks had been a waste of time, replied: “I think so. Because if you have a wall in front of you, you can speak and ask whatever you want, but every decision was (already) made. “
Spurs, who have just returned from a two-week forced break due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the club, will host Crystal Palace on Sunday before heading to Southampton on Tuesday.
Norwich manager Dean Smith said it was “madness” to expect teams to play two games in 48 hours in the current circumstances, with the relegated Canaries hosting Arsenal on Sunday before facing Crystal Palace on December 28.
promoted
“We have some new cases, but we have others coming back,” Smith said. We don’t know how many will be missing on Boxing Day.
“It’s madness that we have to play two games in 48 hours and there has to be a question about the integrity of the competition when teams play weakened teams against other teams and it affects league positions.”
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