Stars will have to go for tests on Christmas Day
PREMIER LEAGUE players will be forced to report to club training grounds for PCR tests on Christmas Day as part of a massively increased screening programme designed to save the festive programme from the threat of an Omicron shutdown. Under new emergency protocols agreed by clubs yesterday, players will be asked to take up to nine Covid-19 tests each week — seven lateral flow and two PCR — due to fears about the greater transmissibility of the new variant.
While clubs unanimously agreed to the new testing regime, there are concerns in some quarters about the logistics involved, particularly the decision to make PCR tests mandatory the day before each fixture.
As a result, away teams may have to travel considerable distances while waiting for test results to ensure games can go ahead.
That may lead to the prospect of 11th-hour postponements — such as last night’s match between Brentford and Manchester United, which was called off at 11.50pm on Monday after a late Premier League Board meeting. In another new development, all players and staff will take lateral flow tests in their cars each day before being admitted to club training grounds. Once there, they will then have an additional PCR test the day before a fixture, including on Christmas Day.
The lateral flow tests on players’ designated days off will be voluntary, but all clubs will strongly encourage their use and record all the data. The Premier League have acted swiftly to respond to the Omicron threat after announcing a record 42 positive tests across two testing cycles last week. They anticipate the number of cases will continue to rise.
The changes were agreed only four days after the previous twice-weekly testing regime was beefed up to three times a week last Friday.
It is a clear sign of clubs’ concern about the danger of mass cancellations and another shutdown — as reported by Sportsmail yesterday. Since the detection of Omicron in the UK, a number of clubs have reported outbreaks of the virus.
They include Tottenham, Leicester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, QPR and West Bromwich Albion, with Norwich City having one player affected. Tottenham’s match at Brighton was postponed, QPR had to call off Monday’s Championship game with Sheffield United and this Saturday’s fixture against Swansea due to an outbreak, while United’s trip to Brentford last night was also postponed. The Premier League are determined to do all they can to keep future matches on, however.
They would rather return to behind-closed-doors fixtures than pause the season — although they will not sanction that move either unless ordered to do so by the Government.