Burnley’s Premier League match against Leicester on Saturday has been postponed due to Covid cases and injuries in the Clarets’ squad.
It is the fourth Burnley match this season to be postponed due to Covid-19 but the first time the request has come from the Turf Moor club. The relegation-threatened Clarets also had another fixture, against Tottenham, postponed at short notice due to heavy snow.
A league statement said: “The Premier League Board accepted Burnley’s application as the club does not have the required number of players available for the match (13 outfield players and one goalkeeper), due to COVID-19 cases
and injuries.”
Burnley saw three consecutive matches – against Watford, Aston Villa and Everton – postponed last month due to Covid-19 cases within the opposition camps.
The re-arranged match against Watford is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, though must now be in doubt.
Burnley were without seven players due to Covid-19 during last weekend’s 2-1 FA Cup loss to Championship side Huddersfield, a match that was also missed by manager Sean Dyche, and have since seen Chris Wood join Newcastle.
Tuchel ‘very angry’ if Covid rules are being abused
Asked if he felt Covid rules were being abused, Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel said on Friday: “I strongly, strongly hope that’s not the case, otherwise I would be very angry.
“We are doing everything to make games happen and we were made to play when thought maybe we should not. So, I can only strongly hope the rules are the same for everybody.”
Which Premier League games have been called off?
Brighton vs Tottenham – Sunday December 12
Brentford vs Man Utd – Tuesday December 14 (now January 19, 8pm)
Burnley vs Watford – Wednesday December 15 (now January 18, 7.30pm)
Leicester vs Tottenham – Thursday December 16 (now January 19, 7.30pm)
Man Utd vs Brighton – Saturday December 18
Southampton vs Brentford – Saturday December 18 (now January 11, 7.45pm)
Watford vs Crystal Palace – Saturday December 18
West Ham vs Norwich – Saturday December 18 (now January 12, 7.45pm)
Aston Villa vs Burnley – Saturday December 18
Everton vs Leicester – Sunday December 19 (now January 11, 8pm)
Liverpool vs Leeds – Sunday December 26
Wolves vs Watford -Sunday December 26
Burnley vs Everton -Sunday December 26
Leeds vs Aston Villa – Tuesday December 28
Arsenal vs Wolves – Tuesday December 28
Everton vs Newcastle – Thursday December 30
Leicester vs Norwich – Saturday January 1
Southampton vs Newcastle – Sunday January 2
Burnley vs Leicester – Saturday January 15
What are the Premier League rules around postponements?
The 2021/22 Premier League handbook included Covid protocols and stated the Premier League’s board will “only permit the rearrangement or postponement of a league match in exceptional circumstances”.
The board make calls on a case-by-case basis, and by way of guidance the Premier League says permission for a postponement will not be granted if a club have 14 or more players from their squad list available.
However, after the postponement of a number of games in the weeks leading up to Christmas, a new Premier League guide explaining match postponement protocols was published.
And there, these factors are considered when deciding whether to postpone a top-flight game:
1) The impact of COVID-19 infections on a club’s squad, as well as injuries, illness and those isolating, and the number of players available on the squad list and any Under-21 players with appropriate experience. Where a club cannot field 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper either from its squad list or its appropriately experienced Under-21 players, the match will be postponed.
2) The status of any COVID-19 outbreak within a club, including the number of individuals affected, the sequence and source of infections and their proximity to the match in question.
3) A club’s ability to safely prepare its players in the lead-up to a match.
4) Medical advice as to whether there is any unacceptable risk to the health and safety of players and staff by playing the match.
5) Any advice from UK Health Security Agency and other public bodies.
6) Any other exceptional circumstances.