Talks are scheduled for Monday
Representatives from Premier League clubs are set to hold talks on Monday to decide whether to postpone an entire round of fixtures over the festive period.
Only four out of the ten Premier League fixtures scheduled for this weekend were played as the recent surge of Covid cases continues to wreak havoc on the fixture list.
After reports in the week claimed some clubs were pushing the league to introduce a “firebreak” which would see matches postponed until mid-January, The Athletic now say that Gameweek 20 – the matches scheduled to be played on December 28, December 29 and December 30 – is the round of fixtures most likely to be postponed.
Premier League executives will meet at 1pm on Monday, with time also allocated for discussions both between Premier League club managers and club captains. These conversations may run on into Tuesday, the repot claims.
Thomas Tuchel expressed his concerns about the situation after Chelsea’s goalless draw with Wolves on Sunday. Chelsea had asked for the game to be postponed due to an outbreak at the club, only for the league to turn the request down hours before kick-off.
“We talk a lot about safety and protecting the players,” Tuchel said. “I’m not so sure we did this today.”
“It will hopefully stop, but it’s more or less hoping,” Tuchel continued. “If we have tomorrow the next positive test, I would like to speak to the people from the Premier League… [and ask] what they expect.
“Let’s hope that it stops. There’s nothing else to do. Shall we stop and not arrive at the next game when they make us play against Brentford? Shall we not arrive? Shall we not train anymore? What shall we do?”
The Athletic also point out that any postponement of Gameweek 20 may come at a cost to the Premier League, with the fixtures due to be broadcast domestically by Amazon.
Amazon have paid £30m a season for their two rounds of Premier League matches and are said to be expecting the fixtures to go ahead as planned.
Related links:
- Thomas Tuchel questions Premier League after postponement request was rejected
- John Terry hits out at Piers Morgan for tweet on unvaccinated players
- Premier League reject Chelsea postponement request for Wolves game
