The clash between Arsenal and Wolves, scheduled for 28 December, has become the 15th Premier League match to be postponed on Sunday due to the coronavirus pandemic in recent weeks. “The Premier League Board has accepted the postponement request because Wolves do not have the required number of players (13 fielders and one goalkeeper) for the match due to multiple COVID-19 cases and club injuries,” the Premier League said in a statement.
Wolves’ Boxing Day football match with Watford was one of three matches scheduled for the traditional round of matches on 26th December, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 infection and the teams affected by injuries. However, this was due to an outbreak at Watford Camp.
Six Premier League matches took place in front of a crowd, despite Britain battling record-breaking coronavirus figures over a wave of the Omicron strain of the virus. Earlier this week, clubs ruled out the option of temporarily halting the season to allow for circuit breakers to transition.
In the same meeting on Monday, clubs were warned that if each team had 13 fit players and a goalkeeper, there would be games. In the three Premier League divisions, 22 English Football League (EFL) matches have been postponed until Boxing Day.
No crowd size restrictions have yet been imposed on matches in England, although fans must provide proof of vaccination or test negative in the past 48 hours. Sport in Wales will be forced to be retired behind closed doors as of today, while a ban of 500 outdoor public events in Scotland has made Scottish Premiership clubs a week ahead of their winter break.
