CALL FOR CLARITY ON COVID CALL-OFFS

THE Premier League are being urged to introduce new guidelines to avoid clubs being kept in the dark before coronavirus-related postponements.

Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta became the latest manager to voice concerns yesterday following the Everton v Manchester City and Tottenham v Fulham call-offs this week, just hours before the games were due to kick off. Everton and Spurs were angered by the decisions, made after requests to the Premier League because of positive cases in the City and Fulham camps.

Jose Mourinho took a swipe at football chiefs, mocking the status of ‘the best league in the world’ on social media.

Spurs were left in the dark until finally discovering their match was off less than four hours before the 6pm kick-off.

Arteta said: ‘Now we need another protocol, clear guidelines of what to do and

what not to do and the timeline. We cannot be waiting until the last two hours to find out whether we are playing a match or not.

‘We should know a little bit earlier and at least have an open communication with the three parties, the two teams involved in the game and the Premier League, and make a decision about what is right to do in that moment, but with a little bit of time.

‘I don’t know the best way. I’m sure the doctors will find the best way.

‘What is important again is that we have an open communication and, if something is happening, we should know early so we can get prepared.’

A hard cut- off point is not deemed a viable solution by the Premier League due to the differing time required to gather all the evidence, before their board can make an informed decision in each case.

This can include awaiting test results, with no return time for those guaranteed.

Further flexibility and case-by-case judgments are also required to fully assess the number of players that affected clubs are left with.

While it has been mooted that a minimum of 14 players is required, caveats remain that allow clubs to still have grounds for a postponement, for example if one particular area of their squad has been badly hit.

Meanwhile, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has been cleared to return to the touchline against Liverpool on Monday.

He was forced to miss the 0-0 draw with West Ham after his wife received a positive coronavirus result last Monday.

But after further tests for members of his household, Premier League medics are satisfied the initial test was a false positive.