Tottenham’s clash with Fulham has been called off tonight after a number of coronavirus cases arose in the Fulham ranks.
The match was due to take place this evening at 6pm at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but has been postponed due to the rise in cases in the Fulham camp. The Cottagers asked for the game to be rearranged after a number of their players and staff contracted the virus and others are showing symptoms.
The news comes in the wake of a rise in the number of positive tests across the Premier League as of late. There were 18 cases throughout the league on Tuesday, the most there has been since regular testing of players and staff began during ‘Project Restart’. Fulham manager Scott Parker missed his sides 0-0 draw with Southampton on Saturday as a household member had tested positive for the virus. His Southampton counterpart Ralph Hassenhuttl was also forced to watch the Saints draw 0-0 with West Ham on Tuesday from the comforts of his own home for the same reason as Parker.
Tonight’s London derby is the third game to be postponed this season, with Aston Villa’s match against Newcastle at the beginning of December and Everton’s tie with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City being rearranged for a later date.
These postponements come in the wake of numerous Premier League managers insisting that a break in the league may be needed. Following Tuesday nights matches, Burnley manager Sean Dyche and Brighton manger Graham Potter highlighted how the rise in cases all over England may lead to the Premier League being halted sooner rather than later. West Brom manager Sam Allardyce went one step further by saying that a two week ‘circuit break’ was necessary to combat the virus in the Premier League. Allardyce was speaking in the wake of West Brom’s 0-5 defeat at home to Leeds on Tuesday.
There is also disappointing news for Liverpool and Everton as they will not be allowed to have fans present at the games as the city of Liverpool has been placed into the Tier 3 category. Both sides had been allowed to have 2,000 supporters at their home games since the start of the month, but they will now have to play in an empty stadium for the foreseeable future.