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Men's Football Premier League clubs decide against any suspension of the season

The EFL, however, sees a host of Boxing Day fixtures postponed

PREMIER League clubs have decided against any suspension of the season as a means of bringing the Covid-19 crisis under control, according to reports.

Six of the 10 matches due to be played in the top flight last weekend were postponed because of outbreaks of cases within clubs.

It had been reported that clubs would consider calling off the round of games scheduled for December 28 to 30.

However, following a shareholders’ meeting involving representatives of the 20 clubs yesterday, it has been reported that a decision has been taken to continue with the season as planned, and that any decisions to postpone individual matches will continue to be taken by the Premier League board on a case-by-case basis.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel led criticism from Premier League clubs across the weekend, with the Blues “deeply disappointed” to have their request for a postponement at Wolves on Sunday rejected.

The Blues were missing eight players with Covid-related absences, and could only field 14 outfield players in their match squad.

Tuchel accused the Premier League of risking the health and safety of his players, fearing further matches would be thrown into doubt.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank was the first to call for a “firebreak” pause on the league action last week, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp adding his support to those calls on Sunday.

He said: “If everybody gets boosted and it is two weeks at home and we have no more cases then fine, let’s go home and wait for that.

“But if we just stop it and don’t do anything, then I don’t see the benefit.”

However, a host of Boxing Day fixtures in the lower English leagues have been postponed.

Cardiff’s Championship game at home to Coventry has been called off, in addition to Stoke’s visit to Barnsley.

League Two fixtures between Northampton and Walsall, Newport and Forest Green, Exeter and Swindon, Bradford and Harrogate, and Bristol Rovers and Sutton also need to be rearranged.

Numerous EFL games have been postponed during the past week following an increased transmission rate of the omicron variant.

This past weekend, only 16 of the original 35 matches went ahead.

Cardiff confirmed Sunday’s scheduled visit of the Sky Blues would not go ahead due to “several cases of Covid-19” among their playing squad and staff, before Stoke announced similar news later on Monday afternoon.

In the fourth tier, outbreaks at Northampton, Forest Green, Exeter, Bradford and Bristol Rovers led to the five postponements.

Table-topping Forest Green, who sit four points clear of second-placed Northampton, have now seen their last three fixtures called off.

Meanwhile Tottenham has been eliminated from the Europa Conference League after Uefa announced that the club’s postponed fixture against Rennes would be deemed as a forfeit.

The clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was due to be played on December 9 but was called off after a Covid-19 outbreak among the Spurs squad.

Uefa had already stated the game would not be replayed and their latest ruling saw Antonio Conte’s side lose the match 3-0 via forfeit, meaning they finished third in Group G.

Spurs also had Premier League fixtures against Brighton and Leicester called off as the surge in Covid cases among top-flight squads continues to affect the calendar.

Uefa’s ruling means there will be no European football for the club in the new year, with a statement on Monday confirming the outcome.

Reacting to the news, a Tottenham spokesperson said: “We are disappointed by the ruling of the Uefa Appeals Body and the refusal to allow more time for the match to be rescheduled. We have to accept this ruling, however, and our focus now turns to the competitions we remain in.”

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