Explained: Why Sunderland v AFC Wimbledon hasn't been postponed despite eight COVID-19 related absences

Why is a game going ahead when eight Sunderland players have been forced to self-isolate, with one positive test confirmed and two others displaying symptoms of COVID-19?
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It's a fair question, and one to which there isn't a straightforward answer.

Sunderland had hoped to postpone Tuesday's game against AFC Wimbledon, but were met with a muddled picture as to what happens next.

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To be clear, the EFL did not block a postponement of the game.

Explained: Why Sunderland v AFC Wimbledon hasn't been postponedExplained: Why Sunderland v AFC Wimbledon hasn't been postponed
Explained: Why Sunderland v AFC Wimbledon hasn't been postponed

However, in line with their policy through the current campaign, they told the Black Cats that there would have to be an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the postponement.

The Black Cats insisted in a statement that they have adhered to all COVID-19 protocols set out by the government and the EFL, but were left with a difficult choice.

With no clarity over what the potential outcome of the investigation would be, postponing the game would risk a punishment from anything up to a forfeit or points deduction.

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This is why when there have been COVID outbreaks at other EFL clubs, the response has been varied.

Some clubs have opted to postpone, and others have opted to play on.

The EFL confirmed earlier today, for example, that Bristol Rovers had postponed their next two fixtures due to an outbreak. The EFL confirmed, as they have done with previous cases, that there will now be an investigation.

As of yet, there have been no conclusion to any of the investigations, adding to the confusion as there is still no precedent for what the repercussions are for an outbreak.

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Sunderland have decided to play the game against AFC Wimbledon, leaving Lee Johnson with a vastly reduced squad, particularly when he was already facing a few injury issues.

Lynden Gooch and Jordan Willis are on the bench, despite neither being expected to be part of the squad initially as they continue to recover from injury.

The rest of the bench is made up of talented U23 players, but some of those played 90 minutes in a game against Norwich City on Monday afternoon.

So what next?

Sunderland are due to play six games in eighteen days, but the fate of those games will clearly be uncertain as the outbreak develops.