London (AP) – After sharp criticism from the clubs, the English Premier League is changing its rules for game cancellations due to corona cases.
In future, games can be postponed if at least four players in a club’s squad are infected with the virus. So far, matches in the top English football league have been canceled if fewer than 13 field players and one goalkeeper were able to play and at least one of the absences was due to the virus.
In the past few weeks, 22 Premier League games had been postponed due to corona. However, some clubs criticized the previously applicable rules as unrealistic. There has always been resentment, most recently over the relocation of the north London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
Most recently, the number of positive corona tests in the top division had fallen significantly: in the week ending January 23, there were 16 new cases among players and supervisors. That was the lowest value since early December.