Football and its lockdown future has suffered a big blow this afternoon with Aston Villa reporting a “significant” coronavirus outbreak ahead of the FA Cup tie against Liverpool on Friday.
With the government rushing to roll out the vaccine nationwide, the news is bound to focus minds and ensure that a keen eye is kept on increasing numbers of positive tests inside the game.
The BBC reports: “Aston Villa says it has a “significant” coronavirus outbreak ahead of the club’s FA Cup third-round tie with Liverpool.
A large number of first-team players and staff are in isolation after returning positive tests on Monday, the club says.
Its training ground was closed on Thursday after a second round of testing produced more positive results.
“Discussions are ongoing between medical representatives of the club, the Football Association and the Premier League,” Villa says in a statement.
It confirms that the surge in the south east is indeed spreading across the country rapidly and will have many wondering whether the season can be completed unless the vaccine roll out can indeed slow the spread.
It has already reached a stage where many we have spoken to within the game widely accept that there will be a number of postponed games – the only real question is how many.
However, given the apparent significance of the Villa outbreak it seems highly unlikely their FA Cup clash can go ahead.
Well with so many players not taking notice of government rules it’s amazing that there hasn’t been more infections up until now.
Surprised they have allowed the transfer window to open especially from country to country.
Can’t see anything other than a suspension at some stage, the only thing that is stopping it is the euros, so why not ditch that for another year then all the pressure is off.
If they can fullfil the fixture with youth players they are obliged too, so doubt it will be postponed although it maybe Liverpool against the u23’s. If we look at the fixture list thats probably kindest to us because if Liverpool go through they will have had a very congested January with pretty much all tough matches before playing us.
I thought Claret and Hugh was a West Ham site?
I thought you would understand that signals the season may not finish would affect West Ham !!!?
Smart move by businessmen. Any excuse to cancel now. Play the system and hopefully rake-in the rewards later when the crowds are back?