So if Covid has now evolved into a basic flu type virus, in the seasons to come , can we now expect to see teams attempt to cancel games because they have 10 injuries and 1 flu case.
I believe that Burnley have ONE COVID CASE and ONE PLAYER AT AFCON and the rest are just normal footballing injuries, therefore why have they been allowed to get this game cancelled? I don't see why AFCON & NORMAL INJURIES have been taken into account, they should be forced to play youth team players if COVID is not the reason they cannot raise a team!!! FFS they have even sold a fit player in the last few days as well, which is most likely the real reason they petitioned to call the game off as they have not yet replaced him
If clubs are forced to postpone games because a proportion of their squad has covid will infected players that are unvaccinated have their pay cut like staff at Morrisons and other companies?
Best case scenario is we are 4 points clear of the both of them. Better still best case is they play out a draw thinking it keeps them both up but we score a last minute winner to go above both and stay up.
The argument form the Managers over Xmas as that players having to play more often due to covid outbreaks mean more injuries. That's how the EPL see it anyway. So whilst the abscences are strictly not Covid related, it sort of tracks.
I expect it would depend on individual contracts. As an employee by law you're only enitlted to statutory sick pay unless your contract/employer says otherwise and generally there are clauses for variation of this if the employer chooses subject to given notice. I had a 3 month notice period on a reduction of hour for example. Like it or lump it. I'm now on 3 days a week and 3/5ths pay. Alternative was to jog on.
I thought it's 13 'adequately experienced' outfield players plus a goalie...so no side is unable to use the max 3 subs per game. 'Adequately experienced' is, I believe, actually getting onto the field of play during an EPL game...so only FA Cup games wouldn't mean U23 players are so defined.
Do me a favour, Watford General couldn't take that, best case is we go three up in the first five minutes and they play out a goalless draw thinking it keeps them up, and NO heart attacks in Herts
I don't know for sure but my guess is that because it's a BT Sport game, it won't be scheduled for a time when other televised games are on and certainly not on a Saturday 3pm slot.
I heard on the radio earlier that it can't be played that weekend. Seems nuts to me, an opportunity to get a game played plus at a weekend so easier to travel. I'm sure BT Sport could pick another game
Could a tricky fit then with the European games coming.... UEFA don't usually like Premier league games on at the same time as Champions league etc ties.
That may not be a problem (apologies for source): https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/s...ures-played-night-Champions-League-games.html
Makes you wonder if any PL games are going to be rearranged for this weekend. Another one of Burnley’s postponed fixtures is away to Villa who are also out of the FA Cup. This was a 3PM kick off so no TV issues and yet has not yet been rearranged even with this free date available.
Ok lets agree that best is Newcastle needing to better our result and draw or better against Burnley. Burnley need to beat Newcastle and hope we lose by 12. With 5 minutes to go, Burnley are level with Newcastle and we're 2 up. Newcastle give up and Late January signing Ismaila Sarr gets sent off for fighting with his own team mates after scoring a deliberate last minute own goal and then revealing a t-shirt that says "F off Saudi state murderers". News filters through to our game as we concede 3 stoppage time goals that would have kept Newcastle up. Sarr gets told he can leave for free to any team but Watford and is signed by Udinese on a free and is loaned back to us becoming the greatest ever Watford player with 250 career goals.
But isn't BT Sport covering Champions League? Since they have the TV rights to this one, not sure they can reschedule at the same time.
Some people are suggesting this game should be rescheduled for the FA Cup 4th Round weekend as we are both out of the cup, that makes a lot of sense to me but will the powers that be agree?
I read an article in Nature magazine last week that said the likely roadmap is for it become endemic but mild much like the flu virus .
If that is the main criteria and TV has the final say to when a game should be played regardless of the teams welfare etc. Then I think it's time the PL got their priorities right instead of just money grabbing
It’s the FA who protect the game slots on that weekend, has nothing to do with the PL. I’m sure BT would be happy to stage the game that weekend seeing as they have lost the TV rights to the FA Cup. But it’s up to the FA to allow that, not the PL.
No games at 2pm Sunday on the FA Cup 4th round weekend so they could play it then. But to be fair that would make far too much sense.
I think you are mixing two things together. 1. Can the game be played during the FA cup weekend. - I am sure the PL can decide this. 2. Can the game be televised during the FA cup weekend.. - The FA would have a say on this. If the PL will not split the link between the game and BT showing it, then it I do not think it be on that weekend.
If they can't play on the weekend, then what about Wednesday or Thursday next week. The other issue as far as I understand is that there can't be EPL televised game on the same night as UEFA competitions, therefore there are very few options. As there is no European football next week it would make sense to push it to Thursday IMO.
No - I posted about this above. UEFA are OK about it but as was pointed out, BT do have rights to CL/Europa so unlikely it would happen on a European night
Yes, postponed again due to Burnley only having (allegedly or otherwise) ten fit players due to Covid, injuries etc. At least they called it off with more than 24 hours to go before kick-off rather than with 1 and a half hours notice like the first time, so I thought none of us would have made an unnecessary journey this time.
