Premier League, EFL to Fulfil Christmas Fixtures

Premier League and EFL clubs have chosen to fulfil festive fixtures despite ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19 cases.

The Premier League’s 20 clubs met yesterday to discuss the fixture list after six weekend games were postponed.

The postponement of a round of games over Christmas was a possibility.

No vote took place and so two rounds of fixtures are in place across five days from 26 December, while the EFL will play games “where it is safe to do so”.

It had been expected that the Premier League’s game week 20, starting on 28 December, would be postponed in order to ease the pressure on Premier League squads.

Instead, clubs have been advised if they have 13 fit players, plus a goalkeeper, they should fulfil their games.

FA Cup replays in rounds three and four have however been scrapped and talks are ongoing on whether to reduce EFL Cup semi-final ties to one-leg matches.

Last week, Premier League players returned 42 positive Covid-19 tests in a seven-day period, the highest number since the start of the pandemic. Updated figures for the most recent seven-day period expected late last night.