DBasia.news – The Premier League has announced the postponement of five matches originally scheduled for this weekend. The rise of COVID-19 cases in Premier League teams makes this decision to be taken.
Previously, the Premier League had announced the postponement of the Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion match. But after that there were four additional matches.
The four matches are Southampton vs Brentford, Watford vs Crystal Palace, West Ham United vs Norwich City, and Everton vs Leicester City. Thus, the remaining five matches that will still be played this weekend.
Despite the proposal to postpone all matches this week, the Premier League insisted on continuing with the competition.
“All other matches to be played this week will still be played as planned,” the Premier League said in a statement quoted by Sky Sports.
So far, nine matches have been postponed during December 2021. This cannot be separated from the increase in COVID-19 cases in the UK.
Regarding the surge in COVID-19 cases, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuettl said the number of players who were not vaccinated was too high. The Premier League reports that 25 percent of footballers from 72 clubs have no intention of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
The latest Premier League data on player vaccination rates in mid-October showed that 81 per cent of players had received at least one dose of vaccine with 68 per cent having been double vaccinated.
“It’s too small a percentage in my opinion,” Hasenhuettl said.
“I can only speak about our club, and our vaccination rate is almost 100 per cent. I feel safer in this environment.”
“I don’t know if this is the reason that we don’t have a case here, but I’m very happy that we have a different mindset. We’ve had a lot of talks, a lot of convincing and in the end, it’s about the players having an open mind,” added Hasenhuettl.