SPURS will play FULHAM on Wednesday after Prem bosses made unprecedented emergency scheduling changes.
Tottenham were due to travel to Aston Villa for a crunch clash.
Scott Parker’s Fulham are being forced to play Tottenham on WednesdayCredit: PA:Press Association
But Villa failed to get the green light to return to their Bodymoor Heath training ground after the Covid-19 outbreak that saw them field a youth team against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
It means Fulham, who asked for the initial December 29 game at Tottenham to be postponed because of their own outbreak, will now have no option but to play this week.
And Fulham’s game with nearest neighbours Chelsea, scheduled for Friday night, will instead be played at 5.30pm on Saturday.
That has left the Cottagers hugely frustrated with the fixture, which will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video, being shoehorned into their season.
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has put the squeeze on Prem chiefs after arguing publicly and privately that his side should not be made to suffer for situations outside their control.
Spurs would have faced the prospect of a free week despite having to reschedule that match and BOTH Prem clashes with Fulham.
The trip to Craven Cottage, scheduled for the end of April, is the same weekend as the final of the Carabao Cup.
And with Tottenham still in the FA Cup and Europa League, there were serious concerns that Mourinho’s side could have faced up to three weeks later in the campaign when they have to play FOUR matches.
Mourinho’s comments have forced the Prem to act swiftly.
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The decision has knock-on effects elsewhere, for both Fulham and Chelsea, although the fact that games are being played behind closed doors does make the late changes easier to handle.
Friday night’s West London derby has been switched to Saturday instead, in the tea-time kick-off slot.
That still enables both Chelsea and Fulham sufficient preparation time for next midweek’s scheduled Prem games, with Frank Lampard’s Blues travelling to Leicester on Tuesday and the Cottagers hosting Manchester United 24 hours later.
Prem bosses will still then need to find a date for Spurs’ game at Villa.
That cannot be slotted in next week – even if Dean Smith and his squad are able to play – as Villa have already been scheduled to play their “catch-up” game with Manchester City, postponed from the first week of the season.
PREMIER LEAGUE STATEMENT
Aston Villa’s match against Tottenham Hotspur, due to be played at Villa Park on Wednesday 13 January, has been rescheduled following a decision by the Premier League Board.
Following Aston Villa’s request to rearrange the fixture, and due to the number of players and staff who have either tested positive for COVID-19 or have been placed in isolation by the club, the Premier League had no other option than to reschedule the game.
With the health of players and staff the priority, the League continues to work with Aston Villa on measures to ensure their League season resumes safely and at the earliest opportunity.
The Premier League wishes those with COVID-19 a full and swift recovery and will rearrange Aston Villa’s game against Tottenham Hotspur as soon as possible.
As a result of this rescheduling, Spurs will now play their home match against Fulham FC in its place, on Wednesday 13 January at 8.15pm on Amazon Prime Video. The fixture was previously postponed on 30 December.
With Fulham now playing on Wednesday 13 January, their home fixture against Chelsea FC will be moved from Friday 15 January to Saturday 16 January at 5.30pm, and will remain live on Sky Sports.
Everton’s away game at Aston Villa will be rescheduled from Saturday 16 January 5.30pm to Sunday 17 January 12pm, and will remain live on Sky Sports.
The Premier League, in consultation with its clubs, has enhanced its COVID-19 protocols, in addition to reimplementing a twice-weekly testing programme. The protocols, which strengthen key elements of the current guidance, came into immediate effect this week.
Jose Mourinho waits around with his team as match between Tottenham and Fulham is cancelled
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
