COVID-19 is making an unfortunate return, with the latest Omicron variant spreading at an alarming rate in the United Kingdom and across the globe. As a result, fears of another coronavirus-induced shutdown in the Premier League have emerged.
Several games have been postponed due to outbreaks, with Tottenham's clash with Brighton and Man United's showdown with Brentford being called off after both Spurs and the Red Devils were hit hard with cases.
Thomas Frank, who is the head coach at Brentford, is also overseeing a crisis, with the Bees reporting 13 COVID-19 cases. As a result, the Danish tactician has made a drastic plea to the Premier League, calling for the English top-flight organizers to suspend all the games for this weekend.
In fact, the 48-year-old went a step further and asked for next week's Carabao Cup quarterfinals to also be postponed in order to allows clubs to "break the chain" and bring the coronavirus outbreak under control.
"We think we should postpone the full round of Premier League games this weekend," Thomas said, as per the Sun.
"Covid cases are going through the roof at all Premier League clubs, everyone is dealing with it and having problems.
"To postpone this round and also the Carabao Cup round would give everyone a week at least, or four or five days to clean and do everything at the training ground so everything is clean and you break the chain."
Brentford, who are set to face Southampton this weekend before their highly-anticipated showdown with Chelsea in the League Cup, aren't the only side battling to bring the Omicron variant under control in their camp. While Leicester's clash with Tottenham is set to go through on Thursday, the Foxes are facing a similar struggle, sparking anger from Brendan Rodgers when the Premier League rejected their request to have this midweek fixture rescheduled.
"It would be nice if there was more clarity around that but to not be given that support is a little disappointing."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) December 15, 2021
Brendan Rodgers feels frustrated that Leicester's application to have their game postponed was refused by the Premier League pic.twitter.com/x8H2NGQD3W
Man United, who were supposed to face the Bees on Tuesday, saw their game postponed after reporting cases. More Old Trafford players have returned positive tests, with the overall count said to be at 19, meaning their weekend fixture against Brighton is now also under severe doubt.
Will the Premier League undergo another suspension? Will the organizers of the world's biggest league instead reintroduce the empty-stadiums rule in order to thwart the spread? Only time will tell.
