New rules on Covid-19 postponements in the Premier League could be in place for the first round of games in February.
Clubs are expected to meet next week, when the league is effectively on its winter break, to discuss changes to the criteria for calling a game off.
The league has begun consulting with clubs over this issue and the new regulations could apply when the English top flight resumes on 8 February.
The league is looking at the issue against the backdrop of falling case numbers within the competition and in the country more widely.
There is nothing within the Premier League’s rules to prevent such a change happening mid-season, but any amendments would require the usual 14-club majority.
The criteria have come under much scrutiny, with Tottenham critical of the Premier League board’s decision to postpone this past Sunday’s north-London derby due to Arsenal having insufficient suitable players to fulfil the fixture.
Where a club cannot field 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper either from their squad list or their appropriately experienced U21 players, the match will be postponed.
The rules allow for postponements to be approved where players are unavailable due to a positive Covid-19 test or close contact with someone who is positive, but also if they are sidelined by injury or away on international duty.
The latter will cease to be an issue beyond this weekend, as usually the Premier League breaks when there are international matches – the Africa Cup of Nations is a rare exception to that.
The Premier League board also considers a range of other factors in making its decisions, including a club’s ability to safely prepare its players in the lead-up to a match – for example if their training ground has been closed – or any other guidance from the UK Health Security Agency.
A Premier League spokesperson said: “The Premier League is consulting with our clubs regarding Covid-19 postponement rules and guidance in light of the changing national picture and the falling number of cases within our squads.
“The league’s current guidance was amended in December following the emergence of the new Omicron variant and we continue to monitor the ongoing effects of the virus and will update our guidance accordingly.”
