Newcastle United’s trip to Aston Villa on Friday has been postponed after the north-east club reported a “significant” rise in positive Covid-19 test results – a number believed to run into double figures – and the Premier League board agreed to defer the game. It is the first top-tier fixture this season to have fallen casualty to a coronavirus outbreak. The Premier League had little option but to act after Public Health England advised that Newcastle’s training facilities should remain closed until Friday at the earliest. Further in-depth consultations with Public Health England and the league’s medical advisers convinced the board to postpone the game to protect the health of players and staff at both clubs. Further positives in the past 48 hours effectively left the Premier League with no choice but to order a rearrangement.

Source: The Irish Times December 01, 2020 07:18 UTC