Prem Covidiots test patience of TV paymasters

He’s got his ear to the ground and his finger on the pulse

BROADCASTERS were left fuming by the Covid postponements in the Premier League.

Television companies pay hundreds of millions for their live rights and to see games being called off at the last minute – while players break strict protocols – has caused one hell of a stink.

Sky, BT Sport and Amazon are among the firms in the current £5billion TV deal and executives are understood to have left the Premier League in no doubt about their view.

Clearly, if players contract the virus unintentionally, while respecting all the rules, then there can be no complaint.

But the number of high-profile cases flaunting the strict protocols has gone down exceptionally badly.

There were three postponements in the week after Christmas, with Manchester City’s trip to Everton and also Fulham’s games at Tottenham and Burnley.

However, it is not just about those games, but players breaking rules such as Tottenham trio Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Erik Lamela having a Christmas get-together with West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini and their respective families.

Manchester City’s Benjamin Mendy (above) apologised after hosting a bash. Football has been awash with talk of other gatherings.

And broadcasters will be even angrier if further revelations emerge – not just because of the commercial damage, but the bad look it gives football during these tough times.

THE transfer window could be very quiet this month.

But there is one player who is still attracting interest, which begs the questio question – could this be the year Wilfried Z Zaha (left) leaves C Crystal Palace? Everton and A Arsenal have been kee keen in the past, and this time Paris SaintGermain and Leicester have been looking.

The 28-year-old is enjoying the best form of his career, and it could be an interesting year if a big club tests the water.