Bristol City have announced their Championship match at Brentford on Saturday has been postponed, with the Bristol club arguing the bank holiday closure of a testing facility meant it had not been possible to arrange the testing of the entire squad and backroom staff in time for the match.
In a statement on their website, the Robins said coronavirus symptoms had become evident within their squad on New Year’s Day: “Following discussions with Brentford and the English Football League the decision has been taken to postpone the game for the safety of players and staff of both clubs. A new date for the fixture will be announced in due course.”
The EFL said: “Circumstances surrounding the postponement will not be subject to an investigation.”
Shortly after the news about the Brentford-Bristol City game, Luton announced their home match against QPR on Saturday had also been postponed.
A Luton statement read: “Positive Covid test results have recently been returned by some of the club’s senior players, football staff and immediate members of family, meaning other players and staff who have come into close contact must also isolate.
“We are awaiting further testing which unfortunately cannot be completed by official EFL procedures before tomorrow’s 3pm kick-off, so the league has agreed to postpone the fixture based on our own recommendation and the league’s medical advice. The game will be rearranged to be played as soon as possible, details of which will be communicated to supporters in due course.”
The postponements came after updated coronavirus protocols were emailed to all clubs by the EFL.
Players must arrive for training sessions in their kit, while indoor facilities including changing rooms and canteens must be closed, gymnasiums and other indoor areas used only if well ventilated, and clubs have been asked to consider using separate or multiple vehicles to travel to fixtures.
The measures essentially revert to steps taken upon the outbreak of the virus and clubs face an increased risk of being sanctioned if found to be in breach of the guidelines.
The measures come amid soaring Covid-19 rates and an increasing number of postponements, with eight games across Leagues One and Two called off in last Tuesday’s schedule alone.
It was announced on Friday that Lincoln’s manager, Michael Appleton, and goalkeeping coach Steve Croudson had tested positive for coronavirus. Testing of all those who have been in close contact have returned negative results and the club’s League One game at AFC Wimbledon will be played without Appleton and Croudson in the dugout.
Individual circumstances, including financial implications, prevent the EFL presenting the protocols as uniformly unbreachable, but it is understood it will clamp down more keenly on affected clubs seen to have flouted its guidelines.
Each postponement for coronavirus issues is subject to an investigation by the league, with the potential for fines or points deductions if clubs are found not to have sufficient cause for calling off fixtures or to have contravened best practice.
Investigations into coronavirus postponements are yet to be concluded, but some clubs have expressed concern over the pressure to fulfil fixtures. Rotherham called off two games over Christmas after five players were affected by the virus but their manager, Paul Warne, said they felt obliged to play on Tuesday in the fixture against Barnsley, for which they named only six players on the bench.
Warne said: “I was advised that if we did not play the game there would be retribution because I am going against medical advice. There was a fine with a possibility of a points deduction, which I do not want hanging over our heads.”
Returning to the theme before the match against Cardiff on Saturday, Warne said: “The EFL rules have changed again so now we are having to take three buses to every game. No one is allowed in the gym, no indoor stuff, [and] the lads have to take their kit home and come in it to training.”
from Football | The Guardian https://ift.tt/3aY5zLu
via IFTTT
No Comment