Exclusive: FA tells clubs third round cup ties must be played even with only 14 Covid-19...

[ASFN Admin]

The Football Association has warned clubs that they must fulfil FA Cup third round ties next week even if they have only 14 players Covid-free and available, as fears grow that the competition could be ruined by a raft of postponements. The email from the governing body was sent to clubs on Friday morning amid concern that the FA Cup could be badly damaged next week, with Covid infections climbing steeply across Britain. The FA has told clubs that they must do all they can to “keep the competition on schedule”. In an email from the competitions officer Chris Darnell, clubs are instructed to report problems as soon as possible. He writes that in order to “mitigate the risk of causing disruption to the wider fixture schedule” FA Cup fixtures will have to be played "providing clubs have a minimum of 14 Covid-19 negative players available”. Any clubs that are unable to select 14 Covid-free players will have to report the issue to the FA, where the professional game board – a three person sub-committee of the FA main board, including Football League chairman Rick Parry – will discuss the merits of a postponement. There are fears that the first widespread testing since November for many Football League players, due to begin next week ahead of the third round ties, will result in multiple positive tests at clubs. With no wriggle room left in the fixture calendar, a run of postponements would be disastrous for the FA’s premier competition, following on massive Covid-induced financial losses for the organisation last season of upwards of £300 million.

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