Burnley was furious on Saturday night when they suffered a second postponement on short notice within a week.
The Sean Dyche players had just finished their pre-game meal at a hotel near Villa Park and were about to go to the stadium when their game against Aston Villa was abandoned shortly before 1pm – two hours before kick-off.
Burnley chairman Alan Pace said the delay in the decision was unfair to fans. “Like all our fans, I am very disappointed that today’s game has been postponed,” he said.
Burnley was furious after suffering a second displacement on short notice within a week
Aston Villa postponed clash with the Clarets after suffering an outbreak of Covid
“I know that many, like me, will have made the trip to Villa and are now making the long journey home.”
On Wednesday night, Burnley’s home game against Watford was postponed under similar circumstances.
“It’s very frustrating and disappointing,” said a source at Burnley. “The club knew that morning that Villa had requested to abandon the game, but with the team so close to kick-off they expected to play and the kit was laid out in the away dressing room as usual.
“The lack of transparency is the hardest part. We do not know how many cases there have been or the reasons for the game being canceled. ‘
Burnley was about to go to Villa Park when they got the call from the Premier League
Burnley is believed to have only had one positive Covid case on the squad all week, and all of their players registered negative lateral flow and PCR tests on Friday night while staying in the Midlands to prepare for the game.
But Villa received more positive tests yesterday morning and requested the 10:30 a.m. to be rescheduled. The request was approved at 12:15 p.m. with an official announcement at 1:00 p.m. just two hours before kick-off.
Burnley is said to have been upset about the league’s individual postponements.
Villa, who claimed they couldn’t field a team, had an entire squad of U23 players whose game in Sunderland was postponed on Friday due to a frozen field.
“After reviewing all new information from Villa this morning and receiving separate medical advice, the board approved the application as the club did not have enough players to field a team,” a Premier League statement said.
Burnley chairman Alan Pace said the delay in making a decision was unfair to supporters
Burnley received no further positive results on the latest tests and was eating a pre-game lunch at their team hotel – in Birmingham, which had traveled on Friday – when they were informed.
The Clarets will now put questions to the Premier League to explain in detail the reasons for the postponement, like they did when their clash with Watford was canceled late on the week.
The Premier League is fighting to ensure that the schedule continues as planned, especially in an already crammed schedule entering a World Cup year, but a short break in the season should now be possible.
“They don’t want to, but they know they could be forced to,” a source said on Saturday. “Every club has cases, training grounds are closed, games are played on the left, right and in the middle.
Sean Dyche and Co believe that there has been a “lack of transparency” among senior officials
“There is no way we can go on like this. Surely you have to cancel for a few weeks so that the spread stops and the sick players recover? ‘
The fans are also frustrated that most clubs keep their Covid numbers private. There is no threshold on the number of cases required to force a postponement, which calls fairness into question.
Villa’s official website lists a roster of 66 players, including youth players, with 15 more on loan. A Burnley source said the postponement was an “excuse” that Villa couldn’t field a team.
Fans who had already traveled to the ground vented their anger and described the late postponement as “disgusting” and “shameful”. “I paid over £ 50 for my train ticket here,” said a Burnley fanatic on Birmingham New Street.
“So it’s a £ 100 a week day – just before Christmas – including my train fare, my playing card, and food and drink.”
Another game bites the dust. Aston Villa v Burnley was postponed ridiculously late.
– Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) December 18, 2021
Experts joined in. Gary Lineker described the call as “ridiculously late”. Chris Sutton tweeted: “Fans are again pressed for the delay in the decision.”
Saturday’s game was the 10th game in the Premier League canceled due to Covid and Burnley has to plan an extra game as their game against Tottenham was canceled due to heavy snowfall.
Villa apologized to Burnley and her supporters for the decision, but said an increased number of Covid cases meant they had no choice but to request a postponement.
The Premier League’s official statement states: “This decision was based on the number of Covid-19 cases, injuries and diseases.”
Tomorrow there will be a meeting of all 20 top clubs and the league board, which will provide more clarity about the coming weeks.
Burnley will have one more game to attend to as their game against Tottenham was canceled due to heavy snowfall