The English Football League have confirmed that matchday Covid-19 testing has been removed in a bid to try and reduce the amount of ties being called off late in the day, which has caused disruption to travelling fans across football.
Matchday Covid Testing Removed By EFL
Late Postponements
With a rise in Covid cases across sport, numerous events have been called off and football has seen games postponed at the eleventh hour when fans have already been travelling to matches up and down the country, unable to claim travel refunds in many cases. One such example was the Boxing Day clash between Hull City and Blackburn Rovers that was not called off until two hours before kick off with away fans already travelling or already at their destination.
Matchday Testing No Longer Needed
The Football League have been keen to hear fans’ pleas over late postponements and have taken the decision that testing every day is still required but not on match-days.
The decision has been hastened by eight games due to take place over the New Year being called off due to teams not having enough players to field a team due to positive Covid tests.
BBC Football reported that the EFL have said:
“Over the past week, it has become clear that the requirement for matchday testing has caused significant concern and uncertainty at clubs as well as seriously affecting supporters. The league revisited the matter with its medical advisors and, after careful consideration, which included dialogue with a significant number of club doctors, it was determined that the requirement for match-day testing would be removed, except for those individuals who display Covid symptoms. Daily testing will continue on non-matchdays with clubs following updated red protocols which remain our biggest protection against the transmission of Covid.”
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