The Premier League has issued a statement confirming it's intent to carry on with the fixture list where safely possible, read on for the full details of the statement.

The Premier League has not bowed from pressure mainly from the Premier League managers, to curtail the Xmas programme and potentially into the New Year.

However as much as the fixtures may continue, whether supporters will still be able to attend games in the same numbers is open to debate at a time when due to the resurgence of Covid we can not plan anything too far in the future with any certainty.

Obviously each fixture will be dependent as it is the case at the moment of each club not having an outbreak of Covid within its squad.

The Premier League statement reads as follows.

It was confirmed at a Premier League club meeting today that while recognising a number of clubs are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and challenges, it is the League’s collective intention to continue the current fixture schedule where safely possible. The health and wellbeing of all concerned remains our priority and the League will continue to monitor and reflect public health guidance, always proceeding with caution.

A range of issues were discussed at this afternoon’s meeting, including the adaption of the Premier League COVID-19 postponement process in response to the impact of the Omicron variant.

The League also confirmed to its clubs today that 92 per cent of players and club staff have received one, two or three COVID-19 vaccination doses, with 84 per cent of players on the vaccination journey.

Players who have had one or two doses are required to wait for the appropriate time period before receiving either their second or booster vaccinations.

The League continues to work with clubs to encourage vaccination among players and club staff, as well as promoting the Government’s public health vaccination messaging to clubs and the wider public.

No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League, and player vaccination rates will now be publicly communicated at the end of each month, beginning in January.

Interesting reading about the percentage of Premier League players and staff who are on as they put it "The Vaccination Journey", this compares favourably against the EFL where it is said around 25% of players have not received any vaccination at all.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 09:12 - Dec 21 Surely not a big issue - is it ?. Most Prem. sides have an experienced 24/25 man squad ...AND a "B team" to call upon. Whether you have seven players injured, or 7 with Covid / flu i s a similar situation. The Covid types will be in quarantine, and those inured will be in rehab. until everyone is fit enough to play again. The biggest problem for all managers is finding 11 men good enough to win a game and there is no guarantee that "your best selection" will be good enough to win every game. There may be a case for lower league ( L1/L2 ) clubs with very small squads to have a postponement if they have a major sickness problem, but the Prem. clubs can hardly claim the same privilege if they have enough fit players to field a side.

0

Colburn added 13:03 - Dec 21 Maybe we should follow the governments lead by bringing some media journalists into our squad to assist our defence.. If we could arrange a few cheese and wine parties to reel them in.. On a serious note, it's the same for all teams and it's down to the discipline of individuals. Saints seem to have been very disciplined as a group of players and as a business ans we have had few issues. So it feels harsh to be penalised with cancelled games when you have stuck rigidly to business protocols while other teams appear not to have done the same. I believe Brentford were lucky to have their game at St Mary's cancelled and I'd also say that I don't believe that the big clubs are as concerned by variants as much as they are a heavy fixture schedule and they have tried to use the situation to their advantage. This schedule is nothing new in British football and clubs should plan for it like they do any other aspect of the season.

2

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls