Tottenham's Premier League conflict in opposition to Crystal Palace in the present day will go forward as deliberate, with the choice made simply hours forward of kick-off.
It was reported final night time that the fixture had been known as off on account of quite a lot of Covid-19 circumstances at Palace, however no official communication was launched till this morning, a transfer which left supporters of either side within the lurch.
Nevertheless, the sport in north London will now be performed as scheduled, regardless of the league's coronavirus chaos threatening to derail it.
The event comes regardless of Palace supervisor Patrick Vieira testing constructive for Covid and coming into self-isolation. He might be absent from the touchline for the match, together with his No 2, Osian Roberts, taking his place briefly.
Three different Premier League video games in the present day have already been scrapped because of outbreaks, with Burnley's match with Everton postponed on Christmas Eve.
In line with studies, two members of Palace's backroom workers examined constructive for Covid, following on from quite a lot of different constructive checks recorded by gamers.
We are able to affirm that our match away at Spurs goes forward in the present day as scheduled (15:00 GMT).#CPFC
- Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 26, 2021
Palace have been pushing for the sport to be postponed amid the Covid chaos, whereas Spurs - effectively conscious of the hectic fixture schedule - have been eager to play on.
Sportsmail understands, nevertheless, that the Premier League weren't glad with Palace's late software, which is claimed to have been lodged early this morning.
Talking on Friday, Vieira admitted he was 'nervous' how the well being emergency would have an effect on his squad over the hectic festive interval.
'We hope we'll be okay [to face Spurs] however if you're trying on the variety of circumstances round we begin to be nervous,' he stated.
'We had a few circumstances in our soccer membership within the final couple of days.
'We attempt our greatest to forestall the state of affairs however it's worrying as a result of the evolution for the subsequent couple of days we do not know the way it will go.
'I am not nervous in regards to the gamers' welfare concerning the [frequency of] video games throughout this era as a result of it has been like that for years and years. I am nervous about their welfare concerning Covid.
'Gamers getting back from the Covid state of affairs and asking them to play with not sufficient coaching is loads on them.'
The postponement would have meant that simply 5 of the 9 top-flight fixtures scheduled for Boxing Day will go forward. Liverpool vs Leeds, Wolves vs Watford and Burnley's conflict have been known as off, and might be performed at a later date.
Spurs have been affected closely by Covid disruption.
Two Premier League video games and one Europa Convention League match have been postponed because of the virus, leaving the membership nervous in regards to the variety of matches they should play within the New Yr.
Their clashes in opposition to Brighton and Leicester, and their group stage tie with Rennes, have been waved off after Covid unfold amongst their first-team squad earlier this month.
BT Sport will broadcast their showdown in opposition to Palace stay this afternoon.
Nevertheless, they have been scheduled to point out Liverpool's journey to Leeds as a substitute, earlier than a Covid outbreak at Elland Highway noticed the sport fall sufferer to a different postponement.
25 Boxing Day video games throughout the highest 4 divisions in England have been worn out.
At a number of conferences on Thursday, top-flight managers and captains have been in a position to voice their issues to the Premier League in regards to the state of affairs.
Fears have been raised in regards to the variety of video games they must play over a small variety of days over the vacation interval, in mild of Covid chopping down their numbers.
Manchester Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola hinted that gamers could also be compelled to go on strike, whereas Tottenham coach Antonio Conte stated the talks have been 'a waste of time'.
A scarcity of transparency from the Premier League has been criticised throughout the sport, and steering has now been launched over the protocols for calling off matches.
Golf equipment should present data on the main points of gamers and workers - and their vaccination standing - who've examined constructive, numbers on these unavailable by harm, gamers on the squad checklist who can be found and detailed medical data.
When weighing up whether or not to name off a sport, the Premier League will think about the impression of the Covid absences, the variety of first-team and skilled Beneath-21 gamers obtainable, the membership's skill to coach their stars and recommendation from well being our bodies.
From the latest spherical of testing, it was revealed that there have been 90 new Covid-19 circumstances, after a report 12,345 checks carried out by gamers and workers members.
With the Omicron variant decimating the soccer calendar over current weeks, a raft of restrictions have been re-introduced to assist sluggish the unfold of the virus. Lateral stream checks are taken twice every day, with PCR checks carried out twice per week.
The newest tally is greater than double the quantity from the earlier spherical of testing, which noticed 42 constructive outcomes. This was the very best quantity because the pandemic started, earlier than the latest worrying figures have been launched.
