Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 06:53• Dominic Mostert

The Premier League match between Brentford and Manchester United on Tuesday evening has been cancelled, the competition organizer reports in a statement. In the run-up to the game, some players and staff members of the Red Devils positive for the coronavirus. A new date for the game is being sought.

The Premier League came to the decision after consultation with doctors to scrap Tuesday evening’s game. Manchester United have meanwhile closed Carrington training complex to limit the spread as much as possible. Positively tested players and staff members have been quarantined. Because Manchester United have not trained in recent days, and are “prioritizing the health of players and staff”, the club asked the Premier League to cancel the game. It is not known which players are infected.

The news of the corona outbreak at Manchester United comes just days after Tottenham Hotspur’s Conference League meeting with Stade Rennes on Thursday was postponed after 13 players and staff the Spurs tested positive for the virus. Sunday’s Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion was also canceled as a precaution. UEFA could not find a new date for the meeting with Stade Rennes, so there is a very good chance that the French club will be awarded a regulatory victory, which would mean Vitesse finish second in Group G of the Conference League and winter in Europe.

The coronavirus currently has the Premier League firmly in its grip: last week 42 positive test results came back after tests with players and club officials, a weekly record. 3805 tests were performed. It is known that positive test results have been received at Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion. In addition, there is still no certainty about the continuation of the match between Leicester City and Tottenham on Thursday. The Premier League has no set rules for the continuation of a duel: each case is considered separately by the board.