The games between Wolves andWatford in the Premier League on Boxing Day have been canceled.
The matches were supposed to be played on Sunday at 12.30 but were put off after requests from both teams.
The board of the premier league met on Thursday morning and agreed to the requests made by the visiting sides for the affected games.
The board of the league decided to call off the two clubs' Boxing Day games after they requested postponement due to COVID-19. The two games are on Sunday at 12:30pm and will be played by Wolves and Hornets.
The board made its decisions in advance of Boxing Day to give clarity to clubs and their supporters. Fans' festive plans were disrupted and we apologize for that.
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There are concerns about the welfare of players from both a Covid-19 perspective and the risk of player burnout because of too much football, according to Steven Gerrard.
The league understands that fans will be disappointed by the postponement of the two matches and that they will be looking forward to watching the games. The league tries to give as much clarity as possible, but sometimes it has to be made at short notice as safety is the priority. The league will try to keep fans updated if the games are at risk.
The board decided that the fixture wouldn't go ahead this weekend due to the number of injuries and illnesses among the players. The club's training ground was closed after consultation with the UK Health Security Agency.
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Graham Potter says Jordan Henderson's comments about player welfare are worth paying attention to.
The game between Crystal Palace FC andWatford FC was postponed last Saturday due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Due to players coming out of isolation, it is expected that they will be available for the game against West Ham.
The board assesses applications to postpone matches on a case-by-case basis, based on existing rules and adapted COVID-19 postponement guidance introduced to clubs in light of the new Omicron variant." The board will look at a number of factors, including the ability of a club to field a team, the status, severity and potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak at the club, and the ability of the players to safely prepare for and play the match.
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Eddie Howe says his club will follow the correct guidelines rather than consider politics.
The board needs to consider the risks to the opposition and other people the club representatives may come into contact with.
The league's collective intention is to continue the current fixture schedule, even though a number of clubs are experiencing the COVID-19 outbreak.
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. Emergency Measures have been reintroduced by the premier league in light of the recent rise in COVID-19 cases. Protocols include more frequent testing, wearing face coverings while indoors, and observing social distance.
