The Premier League has recently announced a new system, COVID (cost of value), which provides accurate pricing data in real-time. This allows clubs to make more informed decisions on player transfers and ultimately build their teams with the best players at every position around the world.
The “when did the premier league stop for covid” is a question that has been asked before. The Premier League stopped broadcasting on COVID in 2014.
9:00 a.m. ET
-
Dawson, Rob Correspondent
According to ESPN, an increasing number of teams are pressing for the Premier League to be shut down until the new year in order to cope with the mounting coronavirus epidemic.
With escalating case numbers spurred by the omicron variety, Premier League bosses have been advised that there is support for postponing games until the weekend of January 8-9, when FA Cup third-round ties are scheduled to take place.
– Watch ESPN FC every day on ESPN+ (U.S. only) – Don’t have access to ESPN? Get immediate access to the Premier League’s new COVID-19 measures.
Starting this weekend and continuing through the weekend of January 1-2, four rounds of league games would be postponed. Premier League games would resume on January 15 under the idea.
While acknowledging that certain teams are dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks, the Premier League said that it intends to keep its present match calendar as much as feasible, noting that the health and well-being of all parties involved remains their first priority.
COVID-19 breakouts have forced the cancellation of nine league matches this month. Manchester United’s trip to Brentford on Tuesday, as well as the encounter against Brighton on Saturday, has been postponed. According to ESPN, United had nine first-team players available for the encounter against Brentford, but only seven for the match against Brighton.
Leicester City’s match against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday was also postponed, with the league subsequently stating that four more weekend fixtures would be postponed as well: Southampton vs. Brentford, Watford vs. Crystal Palace, West Ham United vs. Norwich City, and Everton vs. Leicester.
Watford’s trip to Burnley on Wednesday was called off only hours before start, and some clubs are concerned that fans making lengthy flights over the holidays may be forced to return if game decisions are made too late.
Liverpool’s game against Newcastle United on Thursday went ahead, although Fabinho, Curtis Jones, and Virgil van Dijk were all ruled out due to suspected positive readings. Chelsea also faced Everton without Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who were all out due to COVID.
The interruption of broadcast schedules, as well as the possible financial penalties, are two concerns surrounding a prospective closure.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has already requested that games this weekend be canceled due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases in his team.
“We believe the whole round of Premier League games this weekend should be postponed,” he remarked on Thursday morning. “Cases of COVID are at an all-time high at all Premier League teams; everyone is dealing with it and experiencing issues.”
“Postponing this round, as well as the Carabao Cup round, would enable everyone at least a week, if not four or five days, to clean and prepare the training area so that everything is in order and the chain is broken.”
“I do believe that we do need a short-term circuit breaker,” Professor Stephen Reicher, an adviser for the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), told Times Radio. “I think that’s the only way to ensure that the NHS [National Health Service] isn’t overwhelmed — but also to ensure that we can enjoy Christmas itself.”
This article contained information from ESPN’s James Olley and Mark Ogden.
