London, Jan. 26 (BNA): Premier League clubs must have at least four cases of coronavirus in their squad before requesting a postponement, according to new guidelines announced on Wednesday and effective next month.
Previously, teams had to prove that there were no 13 senior players plus an available goalkeeper before requesting a match to be postponed. This also took into account factors such as injuries and players on international duty.
There have been 22 postponements since the start of December, some of which sparked outrage as clubs appeared to be taking advantage of the rules to cancel matches, according to the Associated Press.
The association said it was continuing to adapt its guidance “in response to the broader public health situation”.
The Premier League said: “The rules and guidelines for the postponement of the League are designed to protect the welfare of players and staff, while preserving the sporting integrity of the competition and the quality of the teams playing league matches.”
The directive will take effect after the match between Burnley and Watford on February 5.
Burnley have been the club most affected by delays and have made just 18 games so far – at least twice less than any other team in the league. First-placed Manchester City, for example, has played 24 matches.
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