PL: Vieira, Gerrard COVID positive; Boxing Day matches to go ahead

Crystal Palace’s trip to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium is set to go ahead as scheduled despite a COVID-19 outbreak among Crystal Palace players and staff.

On Friday, Palace manager Patrick Vieira had told media that a “couple of players” had tested positive for COVID-19. Then, on Sunday, three hours before the match, Palace announced that even Vieira had tested positive.

“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,” the club said in a statement.

However, it is understood that Palace’s request to the Premier League to postpone the match has been turned down and it has been confirmed that the match, which is scheduled for a 3pm GMT (8.30pm IST) kick-off, will go ahead.

Aston Villa, who host Chelsea on Sunday at 5.30pm GMT (11pm IST), also find themselves in a similar situation, with manager Steven Gerrard testing positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. Gerrard is set to miss the game against Chelsea, as well as the one against Leeds on Tuesday.

“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,” read a statement from Villa.

Also Read | EFL Cup semi-finals: Chelsea to face Tottenham, Arsenal face Liverpool

The Premier League has seen quite a few disruptions of late due to rising COVID-19 cases in the UK, courtesy of the omicron variant. The most recent round of testing revealed a record 90 positive cases and 13 games have been postponed due to COVID-19 till date, including three Boxing Day fixtures: Liverpool vs Leeds, Wolves vs Watford, and Burnley vs Everton. However, the Premier League, which held an emergency meeting with clubs on Monday, has advised clubs to fulfil their fixtures if they have 13 outfield players and one goalkeeper fit.

Given the surge in cases, several managers have voiced their concerns about the Premier League’s handling of the situation, with Spurs boss Antonio Conte telling the BBC that meetings with Premier League officials felt like talking to a brick wall.