The Premier League have finally confirmed Brentford v Manchester United, which was due to take place on Tuesday, December 14, has been postponed.
Manchester United informed the league of its positive Covid cases within the squad and/or staff members on Sunday before talks were held over the status of Tuesday night’s game on Monday.
Late on Monday night, at around ten to midnight, it was confirmed that the game will not be taking place.
Brentford v Manchester United Off Due to Covid Cases
Premier League Statement on Brentford v Manchester United
The Premier League said in a statement on its website: “The Premier League board has decided to postpone Brentford’s home fixture against Manchester United.
“The decision was taken following guidance from medical advisers due to the exceptional circumstances of an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak within Manchester United’s squad.
“The League wishes a quick recovery to those players and staff with COVID-19. The postponed fixture will be rearranged in due course.”
Manchester United are not the first club this month to have fixtures postponed due to Covid, following Tottenham Hotspur’s postponement of their fixture v Brighton & Hove Albion. Spurs had earlier postponed their midweek game against Rennes, leaving their Europa Conference League status in doubt, though they were included in the draw for the knockout stages earlier today.
Several clubs have Covid situations ongoing, as reported by The Athletic.
The UK recently moved the coronavirus threat level from three to four following the appearance of the Omicron strain within the country.
The Premier League and English Football League are stepping up measures to combat the situation but as shown in recent events, postponement feels like the only option when such an outbreak occurs.
Manchester United’s Covid Outbreak
Manchester United announced this afternoon that they had closed first-team operations down at their Carrington-based training ground.
Their U18s later beat Scunthorpe United U18s 4-2 in the FA Youth Cup at Old Trafford – with the Covid outbreak at the club not affecting the Academy or the Women’s team due to the bubble system in place.
Earlier today, The Telegraph reported that sources at Old Trafford said it was too early to say if the situation will impact their game v Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, December 18.
How Manchester United Are Doing on the Pitch
Since Ralf Rangnick’s appointment as interim manager, Manchester United have won both their league games – against Crystal Palace and Norwich City – 1-0, rising to fifth place in the Premier League, gaining ground on West Ham United, who failed to beat Burnley at the weekend. United are just a point behind The Hammers but will now have to settle for having a game or two in hand with health always coming first.
Earlier today, Manchester United were drawn to face Atletico Madrid in the Last 16 of the Champions League. The draw was as eventful as you could imagine with the initial draw – that placed them v Paris Saint-Germain – voided.
The Premier League Reiterates Emergency Measures Reintroduction
To conclude its statement, the Premier League added: “With the health of players and staff the priority, and in light of the recent rise in COVID-19 cases across the country, the Premier League has reintroduced Emergency Measures.
“These include protocols such as more frequent testing, wearing face coverings while indoors, observing social distancing and limiting treatment time.”
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