In terms of players, managers and coaches, we all want to play the games. But ultimately the health of a player is the priority – Brendan Rodgers
LEICESTER City boss Brendan Rodgers says the only reason the Premier League games are still continuing is because of broadcasting deals.
With Covid-19 wreaking havoc at clubs in the league, recording a record 42 cases earlier in the week, Rodgers and his Foxes wanted their match against Tottenham last night postponed.
Spurs apparently also wanted the match to be postponed because of Covid-19 infections, but their request was denied.
And with Burnley and Watford’s match on Wednesday being postponed, Rodgers doesn’t think the league can choose their matches any longer.
Leicester City Football Club can confirm that Sunday’s Premier League visit to Everton has now been postponed after a meeting of the Premier League Board.
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 16, 2021
Asked if the league’s TV deals had anything to do with the decision, Rodgers says: “I’m pretty sure that’s the case, yes.
“In terms of players, managers and coaches, we all want to play the games. But ultimately the health of a player is the priority. If you have players available, you get a better product.”
Manchester United, earlier in the week, shut down their training ground after a Covid-19 outbreak.
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They then had their match against Brentford postponed, but when the players returned to training on Wednesday, it is believed that they returned to even more positive cases placing tomorrow’s match against Brighton in doubt.
Their opponents, meanwhile, returned to action on Wednesday after having last weekend’s match against Spurs postponed.
Four hundred sandwich packs, prepared for tonight's postponed Premier League fixture, have been donated to charities in the city to prevent the food from going to waste. pic.twitter.com/HXT9URQd2T
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 16, 2021
The Seagulls went down to Wolves 1-0, but coach Graham Potter says they wanted that match to be postponed as well.
He adds: “I think the path we’re on, I’m not sure how long we can stay on it for.
“We all want football to continue, want life to continue as best as we can, but clearly health is the most important thing.
“We’ve got some issues ourselves and this week has been a little bit disturbing in terms of how quickly we’ve been affected.
“If that carries on then we’ll have to have some serious thought [about suspending the league].”
