The Premier League issued the following update yesterday.......

A number of Premier League matches have been postponed recently due to COVID-19 outbreaks at clubs. The League appreciates that calling off fixtures is very disappointing and inconvenient for supporters, and it is always with regret that these decisions are made.

The Board always aims to make their evaluations quickly, giving as much warning to fans as possible, but there will be circumstances where games are postponed at short notice if there are issues on a matchday. The health and safety of everybody remains our priority. Where possible, the League will endeavour to keep supporters updated if games become at risk of being postponed on a matchday.

It is the responsibility of the Premier League Board to decide whether matches should be postponed for COVID-19 reasons. Clubs may apply to the Premier League if they believe that a match should be postponed in accordance with the Premier League’s rules and postponement guidance. That guidance has been adapted to address the challenges posed by the recent spike in infection numbers caused by the Omicron variant. Each application is considered on its merits and any decision to postpone a fixture will be confirmed publicly by the Premier League immediately after the Board has reached its decision.

Match postponement application process

Clubs are asked to contact the League as soon as they suspect that an application might need to be submitted. The application should be made as far in advance of the match as possible, to provide clarity for fans and clubs, and to make sure the Board has all the necessary details to make a fully-informed decision.

When making an application, clubs must provide the Board with the following details, together with clear reasons why they believe the match should be postponed:

There is considerable dialogue between the club and the Premier League during the application process to establish the facts and fully assess the overall situation prior to any decision. This will include discussions between the club and League’s medical advisors, and if appropriate, the UK Health Security Agency.

Premier League Rules and factors taken into account by the Board

Premier League rules provide a framework and discretion to the Board to assess whether a postponement application should be accepted. As the guidance shows, the Board will consider the following principal factors when making a decision:

The Board has applied these factors in recent postponements, with examples including: