EFL 'confident' Sunderland's League One season can continue during COVID crisis - despite HALF the festive fixture schedule being postponed

The EFL remain ‘confident’ that the 2020/21 season can continue as normal despite a steep rise in COVID outbreaks – according to reports.
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Sunderland are one of a half a dozen to have seen cases of coronavirus in their ranks over recent weeks, with the EFL fixture list taking a major hit as a result.

Five League One fixtures were postponed on Boxing Day while seven games won’t be played on December 29 – meaning HALF of the 24 third tier fixtures set to take place over the festive period have been postponed.

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But Sky Sports claim that the EFL remain ‘confident’ that the season can continue without a break.

The EFL are 'confident' Sunderland's League One season can continue during COVID crisisThe EFL are 'confident' Sunderland's League One season can continue during COVID crisis
The EFL are 'confident' Sunderland's League One season can continue during COVID crisis

It’s understood that the 2020/21 campaign was scheduled to allow for multiple postponements, with there currently being enough flexibility to complete the fixture programme – even if it means that sides such as Sunderland will be playing during most midweeks after the turn of the year.

However, the Sky report suggests that should more fixtures fall victim to postponements – whether due to COVID outbreaks or bad weather – then the schedule may not have room to accommodate all the outstanding fixtures.

The EFL are understood to have written to all clubs in recent days asking them to redouble their efforts when it comes to COVID protocols, and have advised that further precautions should now be taken. These include limiting the time players and staff spend in indoor spaces such as gyms, canteens and changing rooms and to travel in individual cars rather than buses.

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