The game between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace will go ahead
Tottenham Hotspur’s Boxing Day clash against Crystal Palace will definitely go ahead despite the Eagles’ request to postpone the game due to a covid outbreak at the club.
Reports on Christmas Day suggested that the game had been postponed after Patrick Vieira’s side were suffering a number of covid cases, however no official confirmation from either club or the Premier League itself left fans confused as to whether the game would be played.
Football.London reported that the Tottenham squad had remained at their training ground for the majority of Boxing Day morning as uncertainty around whether the game would go ahead swirled.
Tottenham also tweeted from their official account to insist that the game would go ahead, leaving fans confused and demanding for a decision to be made.
𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗗𝗔𝗬
🆚 Crystal Palace
🏟 @SpursStadium
🏆 @premierleague
⏱ 3.00pm (GMT) pic.twitter.com/bEFco9Nibv— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 26, 2021
However the Athletic confirmed that the game would be played as Palace’s request to postpone the game came through too late, with an official request sent through in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have recently confirmed that boss Vieira will not travel with the squad to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after he tested positive for covid-19.
We can confirm that Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira is self-isolating after returning a positive test for Covid-19, and will be absent from the touchline for today’s match against Spurs.
Assistant manager Osian Roberts will deputise for Vieira for today’s match.#CPFC pic.twitter.com/nBNmkLlxMG
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 26, 2021
Tottenham’s game will be one of five to go ahead on Boxing Day, with Liverpool’s game against Leeds, Burnley’s trip to Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ game against Watford all postponed due to covid-19.
Aston Villa will also be without boss Steven Gerrard on the touchline for their game against Chelsea after the club confirmed he had tested positive for covid-19 on Christmas Day.
Aston Villa can confirm Head Coach Steven Gerrard will be unable to attend our next two Premier League matches with Chelsea and Leeds United as he will be isolating after testing positive for COVID-19.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 25, 2021
Clubs recently rejected a proposal to impose a one-week circuit breaker in the top-flight for the next round of fixtures after Boxing Day however after the latest news of covid outbreaks at clubs and rising cases, there will be further pressure for the league to take action.
Related links:
- Jordan Henderson ‘concerned’ welfare of players isn’t taken seriously
- Antonio Conte says Premier League meeting was a ‘waste of time’
- 16% of Premier League players have not had a single vaccine
