Leicester game could be called off after city put back into lockdown

The Premier League is waiting to hear whether Leicester will be able to play at home this weekend or for the foreseeable future after the city was placed under tougher restrictions due to a spike in coronavirus cases.

The Foxes are due to host Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium on Saturday but it is not yet clear whether, or where, the match will be played.

Non-essential shops will be closed after cases in the city accounted for 10% of all nationwide positive tests over the past week.

The planned easing of restrictions on Saturday, such as the reopening of pubs and restaurants, will not take place in the city, with people having been advised against all but essential travel.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the incident highlighted the fragility of the competition’s Project Restart plans, but said contingencies were in place for such an occurrence.

“We have had a huge dialogue with the authorities about the concept of neutral venues,” he told MPs at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee evidence session yesterday.

“If what is happening in Leicester – we’re waiting to hear – does affect the club’s ability to host home games – either the match on Saturday against Crystal Palace at 3pm or subsequent matches – then we have the opportunity to put those matches elsewhere or postpone until a date when it is safe to do so.

“I’m yet to understand what the impact of the partial lockdown in Leicester is going to have on the club.

“But clearly it demonstrates the fragile project that we have on here. We can’t take it for granted.”

Third-placed Leicester take on Everton at Goodison Park this evening.