Premier League increases Covid-19 restrictions to prevent further outbreaks

Premier League tightens Covid restrictions

As the number of cases of Covid-19 amongst Premier League clubs is on the rise, most recently Aston Villa suffering and outbreak, the Premier League has moved to introduce stricter regulations in order to curb the spread.

The Guardian has obtained an email which was sent to Premier League clubs by the governing body and outlined the strictness of the rules and any possible implications should these be broken.

“It is vital to ensure public, government and stakeholder confidence in the training and matchday protocols that individual transgressions by relevant persons are appropriately investigated and sanctioned by clubs.”

“Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action by the league individually against the relevant person, where appropriate (for example, where his or her conduct brings the league into disrepute) and/or against the club (where the relevant person’s conduct constitutes a breach of the training protocol).”

Enhanced restrictions include:

• Spot checks are to be conducted in dressing rooms to ensure that players and staff are abiding by the new rules
• The number of guests in the matchday director’s box will be further limited
• Substitutes are to wear masks at all times and should only remove them for playing during the match, warm up and post-match interviews
• Any external members of staff are to be tested and must return a negative result in order to come into contact such as accommodation and transport staff
• Clinical passports will be used at training grounds and inspected by compliance officers

Bruce says its immoral

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce has come out and spoken of his unhappiness at the decision of the Premier League and FA to continue playing football considering the growing spread of the coronavirus amongst clubs. The former Man United defender has said that he understands that the clubs financially must continue but when considering the health implications feels it is effectively morally wrong.

“Financially it’s right to play on, but for me, morally, it’s probably wrong,” said Bruce. “I understand people want to see a game of football but we are just as vulnerable as everybody else.”

“The speed which it hit our club within hours of each other, it was quite incredible how it rips through you. It’s difficult to contain and stop and it leaves people sick.”

 “It devalues the FA Cup. We understand we are playing seven games in January, after seven in December, and the season has been squashed and there is no room for anything else. But to play weakened teams or youth teams – is that the way round it? Not for me.”

Newcastle take on Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup and will be without one of their key players in Allan Saint-Maximin who is still recovering from contracting the virus.

Newcastle staff member nearly hospitalised after COVID-19 outbreak and how it affected Saint-Maximin #nufc https://t.co/0mqrMJTtmL

— The Chronicle (@ChronicleNUFC) January 8, 2021

Arsenal fans may be unable to chant this Thursday as Government discourages singing in grounds

Will football continue in England if Boris Johnson announces third national lockdown?

This article was edited by Josh Barker.

Source: 101greatgoals.com