After the postponement of a number of games in the weeks leading up to Christmas, a new Premier League rules guide explaining match postponement protocols was published.
Premier League rules around postponements
These factors are considered when deciding whether to postpone a top-flight game:
- The impact of COVID-19 infections on a club’s squad, as well as injuries, illness and those isolating, and the number of players available on the squad list and any Under-21 players with appropriate experience. Where a club cannot field 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper either from its squad list or its appropriately experienced Under-21 players, the match will be postponed.
- The status of any COVID-19 outbreak within a club, including the number of individuals affected, the sequence and source of infections, and their proximity to the match in question.
- A club’s ability to safely prepare its players in the lead-up to a match.
- Medical advice as to whether there is an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of players and staff by playing the match.
- Any advice from UK Health Security Agency and other public bodies.
- Any other exceptional circumstances.
