The Premier League have tightened up the criteria required to postpone matches ahead of the 2022/23 season, The Daily Mirror have revealed.
The fixtures for the new season were released this week, with Spurs set to begin their campaign with a home game against Southampton before travelling to Stamford Bridge for a London derby.
The Mirror have revealed that the PL have issued new guidelines for postponements ahead of announcing the fixtures.
They are said to be keen to avoid a similar situation to last season when several matches were postponed during and after the Christmas period.
One of the most controversial postponements was the North London derby, with Arsenal successfully having the game called off in January despite having just one Covid case in their camp (ESPN).
The fixture was eventually played in May, with Spurs running out 3-0 winners – a result which proved pivotal in the Lilywhites pipping their North London rivals to a fourth-place finish.
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The Mirror have now revealed that fixtures will only be postponed next season in ‘truly exceptional’ cases.
It is explained that clubs will only be allowed to apply for a postponement if they have fewer than ten available outfield players and one keeper from their recognised squad list or fewer than 15 players and one keeper who are contracted to them.
Spurs Web Opinion
Arsenal’s request to have the NLD postponed was an embarrassing move on their part, and as it happened, it worked to our advantage, as we were a much better outfit in May, with Conte having had a few more months to work with the squad.
The Premier League is absolutely right in making the criteria for postponing games much stricter as the integrity of the competition was rightly questioned at times last season.
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