TOTTENHAM’s clash with Fulham has been called off after a coronavirus outbreak at the West London side.
The decision was taken just four hours before kick-off, with Jose Mourinho taking aim at the Premier League on Instagram.
Follow all the latest with our blog below…
NEW DATE
Although tonight’s match is off, the Premier League’s statement confirmed that the game WILL be rearranged.
With a packed fixture list coming up in the New Year, it remains to be seen when that will take place.
Spurs are due to play Leeds on Saturday, before their EFL Cup semi-final with Brentford.
Fulham meanwhile got to Burnley on Sunday before visiting QPR for a West London derby in the FA Cup a week later.
COTTAGE STATEMENT
Fulham revealed earlier today their trip to Tottenham Stadium would be in jeopardy after a spate of coronavirus positives at the club.
They said in a statement: “The club can confirm that this evening’s away fixture at Tottenham Hotspur has been postponed. This follows a number of the club’s players and first team staff returning positive results from the most recent Covid-19 tests this week.
“This decision follows discussions with the Premier League and advice from Public Health England.
“Those players and staff who tested positive have been self-isolating in line with UK Government and Premier League guidance.
“We wish the players and staff who tested positive a safe and speedy recovery.”
STILL ON
The show still goes on in Newcastle tonight, despite the area being plunged into Tier 4 restrictions.
Toon welcome Liverpool having dealt with their own outbreak at the club this month, which left a number of players bed bound.
Steve Bruce had a warning for Man City after their positive tests last week – and revealed the crippling effect coronavirus has had on his team.
He said: “I am no scientist but I have seen Man City have got two players today. I hope, for their sake, they don’t go into double figures, and things like that.
“We are witnessing the after-effects still. Still we have got problems with it. It doesn’t just come and go over you. It has been a big factor over the last couple of weeks.”
TELL ME MOUR
Safe to say that the timing of the decision hasn’t gone down that well with a certain Jose Mourinho.
The Tottenham boss indicated the club wasn’t sure if the game was going ahead or not at 2pm, posting a video from the stadium.
And there was thinly veiled sarcasm in his caption: “Match at 6 pm… We still don’t know if we play. Best league in the world”
CLOSE CIRCUIT
Is the Premier League headed for a two-week circuit break after the latest postponement?
We’ll have more analysis soon, but from that Premier League statement and noises from the pundits, it still doesn’t look likely.
A certain Mr Neville is very keen that the show goes on..
PREM STATEMENT
“Fulham FC’s match at Tottenham Hotspur, due to be played at 6pm this evening, has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting this afternoon.
“Fulham lodged a request with the Premier League Board to rearrange the fixture following a significant rise in positive COVID-19 cases, as well as a number of players showing symptoms today.
“The Premier League Board has consulted its medical advisors and the decision to postpone the game has been taken as a precaution and with the health of players and staff as the priority. The group will now be retested immediately.
“With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the Premier League continues to have full confidence in its COVID-19 protocols and being able to continue to play our fixtures as scheduled.
“The League wishes those with COVID-19 a safe and speedy recovery and will rearrange the postponed fixture between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham in due course.”
GAME OFF
After a lengthy wait through the day, Fulham’s clash with Tottenham has been called off.
The game was in doubt as early as last night, with the West London side reporting a number of positive Covid tests in the Premier League weekly rounds.
A Tottenham statement read: “We can confirm that our Premier League home fixture against Fulham, scheduled to take place this evening (Wednesday 30 December), has been postponed.
“The Premier League informed us of the decision this afternoon, with Fulham having requested the postponement on the grounds of the number of COVID-19 positive cases among their players and staff.
“‘Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur sends their best wishes to Fulham for a safe and speedy recovery to all those who are affected. Details of a new date for the fixture will be confirmed in due course.”
But manager Jose Mourinho seems far from happy and has taken a swipe at the ‘best league in the world’ tag on his Instagram page.
Accompanying a video taken outside of the ground today, he wrote: “Match at 6pm… We still don’t know if we play. Best league in the world.”
After Man City’s game with Everton was postponed earlier in the week, we’ve the latest reaction as the Premier League potentially hurtles towards futher postponements – and maybe even an enforced break.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
