The prospect of Luton’s Boxing Day clash with Bristol City going ahead has been boosted after the EFL has confirmed that its programme of games in the League and Carabao Cup will continue amid the surge in Covid-19 cases.
But replays in the FA Cup’s third and fourth rounds have been scrapped to help with any fixture backlogs caused by Covid-19, with Luton set to host Harrogate Town on Sunday January 9.
Town’s Championship game on Saturday was called off after hosts Reading were hit by a spate of positive coronavirus cases, but the Robins’ 3-2 defeat to Huddersfield was one of just five Championship figures that went ahead at the weekend.
Provided the Hatters and City players and personnel remain unaffected then it looks likely Kenilworth Road could host its Christmas fixture.
However, in the second tier, the Cardiff v Coventry and Barnsley v Stoke Boxing Day match-ups have already been called off.
There were 19 games postponed across the EFL’s three divisions at the weekend, but while the EFL acknowledges there will likely be future postponements to navigate, where Covid-19 cases are identified, there is optimism that disruption can be minimised following implementation of RED protocols, a daily testing regime and ongoing vaccination rollout.
EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch, said: “Throughout the pandemic, our two priorities have been ensuring the welfare of those involved in EFL competitions and ensuring the fixture schedule can continue where it is safe to do so.
“We will continue to work with clubs, authorities and other agencies to monitor the Covid-19 case rate and be prepared to respond accordingly, yet for now the view remains that we can continue to deliver games safely where clubs have sufficient healthy personnel in place, on and off the pitch.
“With club mitigation measures, the mass adoption of booster jabs and Covid certification now required for larger crowds, we are sure many fans will continue to feel confident in attending matches over the Christmas period and we look forward to welcoming them.”
The EFL last week provided guidance on non-fulfilment of fixtures, which confirmed that clubs will be expected to play where they have 14 players including a goalkeeper available from their registered squad list, or under-21 players that are not on the squad list, but have played one leave match. The guidance includes any other contracted player not on the squad list buyer that otherwise would have been eligible to play.
