Changes have been made to upcoming FA Cup ties as the Premier League and EFL reveal the fate of their meeting on postponing fixtures.
There won’t be any FA Cup third round and fourth round replays next year to help ease fixture congestion as coronavirus continues to disrupt the English football calendar.
The prospect of a third-round replay for a smaller club is always a welcome boost financial and publicity but that has now been taken out of their hands with a tie set to go to extra-time and penalties instead.
Meanwhile, journalist Mike Keegan has learned: “Not confirmed yet but I’m told that the Premier League is going to continue – for now.”
That was followed up with: “It’s right. PL will continue for now. Clubs told of way forward. 13 outfield + keeper is enough to avoid postponement. Should figure be less, U21s who have first team experience HAVE to step in. Chief medic may also inquire over injured players.”
Premier League clubs had been set to discuss postponing entire round of festive fixtures.
However, clubs have rejected the idea of postponing Christmas matches, despite clubs struggling to fulfil their fixtures because of Covid.
Senior representatives of the top flight’s 20 clubs met with league officials on Monday afternoon to consider their latest response to the pandemic, which is now being fuelled by the rise in the Omicron variant.
Halting the season briefly, dubbed a ‘festive firebreak’, which would have involved postponing a round of fixtures from the 28th to the 30th of December, was one of the options under discussion.
However, despite some managers speaking out in support of a break, the majority of club’s have backed the league position and rejected the idea, at least for now.
Sportsmail understands that the desire is to carry on and try and battle through without an enforced break.
For a break to come into force it would have needed the support of at least 14 of the 20 clubs.
Keegan adds: “PL will review situation in two weeks. Safety and protection measures have been enhanced. There’s also increased clarity over postponements. League wants to ‘bring managers, players, fans and other stakeholders with us’.”
It’s reported that the Prem is in a relatively vulnerable position since the most recent figures (from October) suggest only 68% of players are double vaccinate, the lowest proportion of the major leagues in Europe.
Two jabs and a booster are need for significant protection against Omicron the chance of the variant spreading if it breaks through a club’s bubble.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank suggested a festive shutdown by ‘breaking the chain’ of infection in clubs after their home game Manchester United was called off.
The Red Devils only had seven players available after an extensive outbreak, which led to the closure of their training ground.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe suggests the season as it stands is ‘on a knife-edge’ and suggested pausing if it avoided some clubs falling behind in the number of games played, which could impact on the competition.
‘I don’t think we want half the games played and half not played,’ Howe said his side lost 4-0 at home to Man City. ‘The league really loses something if it becomes disjointed in terms of games played. When you start losing players to Covid then the worry is the competition becomes slightly unfair and I don’t think anyone wants to see that.
‘A decision needs to be made to ensure integrity is maintained in the competition. I think it is on a knife-edge.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola said the problem was much bigger than football, however indicats his club would support the Premier League’s position.
Burnley’s Sean Dyche questioned the value of a break, given the high levels of infection in the community, which pose an ongoing threat to footballers, just like everyone else. And Steve Parish, the Crystal Palace chairman, supported the continuation of the league.
Public health experts have told Sportsmail that while Covid – and the Omicron variant – are spreading so rapidly in society a break will be of little value – something backed up by the EFL chairman Rick Parry.
EFL STATEMENT:
The EFL can confirm that its programme of games in the League and Carabao Cup will continue with fixtures to be played where it is safe to do so, and the set squad criteria can be fulfilled by Clubs.
While the League acknowledges there will likely be future postponements to navigate where Covid-19 cases are identified, there is optimism that disruption can be minimised following implementation of RED protocols, a daily testing regime and ongoing vaccination rollout.
Commenting, EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch said:
“Throughout the pandemic, our two priorities have been ensuring the welfare of those involved in EFL competitions and ensuring the fixture schedule can continue where it is safe to do so.
“We will continue to work with clubs, authorities and other agencies to monitor the Covid-19 case rate and be prepared to respond accordingly, yet for now the view remains that we can continue to deliver games safely where clubs have sufficient healthy personnel in place, on and off the pitch.
“With club mitigation measures, the mass adoption of booster jabs and Covid certification now required for larger crowds, we are sure many fans will continue to feel confident in attending matches over the Christmas period and we look forward to welcoming them.”
National League clubs have received updated guidance from the Football Association in response to the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases. They also are carrying on playing fixtures when able to do so.
LATEST POSTPONEMENTS:
Cardiff City’s Championship home game with Coventry City and two League Two games on 26 December have been called off because of positive Covid-19 cases.
Cardiff, who also had to postpone Saturday’s game with Derby, have “several cases of Covid-19 within the playing squad and staff”.
Northampton Town have also had to call off their home game against Walsall.
Exeter City’s League Two fixture versus Swindon on Sunday the 26th of December has been postponed.
Forest Green also informed the EFL that they cannot play their game at Newport, their third straight postponement.
These are the first three games affected in the traditional Boxing Day programme.
More games are likely to be postponed around the country as national figures rise following the effect of the Omicron variant, with daily lateral flow testing now taking place at clubs for all first-team players and staff.
Grimsby Town’s National League home game with Boreham Wood on Tuesday has been postponed due to an “escalating number of positive cases” within the Mariners’ first-team squad.
The only other National League game scheduled for Tuesday was the Chesterfield-Notts County game, which was called off on Saturday.
That came after positive Covid-19 test results in the Spireites squad.
Exeter City and Portsmouth have also postponed Tuesday’s EFL Trophy tie.
Twitter users reacted as changes are made to FA Cup ties while the Premier League reveal the fate of their meeting on fixtures…
@StuartAkister: Costly for any lower league teams who scrape a 90 minute draw away at a big team
@JoPSmith25: Absolutely terrible decision. For clubs in league 1 and below an FA Cup replay against a big team is absolutely crucial to revenue. To scrap it to suit the big 6 yet again shows why football is in the state it is now. Terrible decision, ruined even more the magic of the FA Cup!
@JacckCFC: All money earned from games should go to the lower league clubs then imo
@MaxGarfield2003: Nice but hopefully Premier League clubs who are playing at home against lower league clubs will give a greater share of revenue to their opponents (to make up for the lack of any potential replay)
@AlexCarter145: Man City losing on pens in front of an empty town end. What dreams are made of! #STFC
@seth_b2509: So we’re shafting lower league clubs to benefit the premier league clubs, ok got it. Crucial revenue in a time of instability within the footballing pyramid and this is the result. Nice one FA.
@albie_f5: Better not be permanent
@_hll99: Screw lower league clubs then I suppose
ON THE PREMIER LEAGUE CONTINUING
@G4moore: Yeah keep making teams play who have great covid protocols and let all the others cancel games the day before.. total joke..
@_LouisHodge_: Get in. I know it sounds horrible but just want to continue. If cases get bad within clubs then postpone the games
@UzorDave: Totally agree, treat the cases on a game by game basis, increase health protocol for players and fans. #COVID19 as come to stay with us for a while.
@subpeonas: This is crazy. They just don’t care and it’s all about the money, TV rights…
@NottsCounty1991: Crazy? Called having massive squads and youth players! Crazy would be constantly stopping games
@SteveBatty11: Here’s an idea, tell them to stop testing the players and staff and hey-presto…. the problems goes away!!
@kieren_rees: Late postponements all over the shop then. Don’t want to hear anymore concerns about player safety after this decision either. All about the money as usual.
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