How the EFL's postponement rules work & who counts as an eligible Sunderland player as they battle COVID issues ahead of Wycombe clash

After positive cases in the Fleetwood Town camp forced their recent trip to Wearside to be postponed, Lee Johnson admits there is a ‘low to medium’ risk that the trip to Wycombe Wanderers this weekend could go the same way.
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Johnson is currently battling a number of injuries in his squad, and a rapidly rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The game will depend on the results of two further rounds of testing before Sunderland travel south, and most importantly, whether players coming to the end of their mandatory isolation periods deliver a negative lateral flow result allowing them to return to the fold.

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Here, we break down exactly how the rules work, how Sunderland are impacted and what happens next...

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So what are the rules and how does the process actually work?

Amid rising cases across the footballing pyramid, the EFL recently issued an updated directive on when games should continue, and when postponements would be permitted.

The statement said: "In the wake of recent EFL fixture postponements due to COVID-19 cases at clubs, the EFL has also provided guidance on non-fulfilment of fixtures, confirming that Clubs will be expected to play where it has 14 players including a goalkeeper available from the club’s registered squad list, Under 21 players not on the squad list but have played one League match, or any other contracted player not on the squad list but otherwise would have been eligible to play.

"The EFL will assist clubs in their deliberations."

This means clubs do not have to field academy players to fulfill fixtures, providing they have not yet made a senior league appearance.

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The list of players absent would also include any unvaccinated player forced to isolate after being identified as a close contact.This is highly unlikely to affect Sunderland, who have a 97% vaccination rate in the senior squad.

What's Sunderland's current COVID-19 situation - and who counts as an eligible player?

Last week Sunderland had three positive cases, though only one of those was an eligible player.

That number (in terms of affecting eligible players) has since grown, and could yet grow further.

Johnson is also monitoring some fresh injury concerns, adding to the long-term issues that have already left his options threadbare.

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Under EFL rules, the current list of eligible Sunderland players is listed below. This included the players under the age of 21 who have made at least one league appearance.

If less than 13 of these players (including one goalkeeper) were available due to either COVID-19 or injuries, Sunderland would be permitted to request a postponement of fixtures.

Kenton Richardson, Josh Hawkes, Jack Diamond and Will Grigg are all registered on the squad list, but are currently out on loan.

Accounting for current injuries, Sunderland currently have a pool of 20 players to select from (depending on the severity of the injury Carl Winchester picked up ahead of the Doncaster game):Nathan Broadhead, Lee Burge, Elliot Embleton, Corry Evans; Tom Flanagan, Lynden Gooch, Thorben Hoffmann, Frederik Alves, Aiden McGeady, Aiden O'Brien, Luke O'Nien, Alex Pritchard, Ross Stewart, Jordan Willis, Carl Winchester, Bailey Wright, Arbenit Xhemajli, Oliver Younger, Anthony Patterson, Dan Neil, Benji Kimpioka, Niall Huggins, Will Harris, Callum Doyle, Dennis Cirkin, Leon Dajaku, Denver Hume

Could the loan players return to help the situation?

It’s certainly a possibility.

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When Middlesbrough asked for a postponement of their trip to Sheffield United last week, the EFL informed them that they should recall their loanees to bolster their ranks.

As it transpired, yet more positive cases saw the game postponement but it is not inconceivable that they could ask Sunderland to do the same, should they be ultimately forced to request a postponement.

When will we know whether the Wycombe game goes ahead?

As outlined above, Sunderland will need to wait for the results of further testing.

However, the EFL’s recent decision to scrap testing on the morning of games will hopefully mean clarity either way for supporters already facing a testing trip for a 12.30 kick off on Saturday.

Are there penalties for teams who postpone games?

It depends on the circumstances.

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The EFL has recently told clubs to move back to daily testing and the 'red' training ground protocols. These include a number of preventative measures to limit the risk of exposure to the virus, specifically in limiting the amount of time players spend around each other in indoor areas.

Any team that is forced to postpone a game is then subject to an EFL investigation, to determine whether all protocols have been followed correctly.

If not, then a fine could be issued. The results of previous investigations have not been made public by the EFL, who have also said recently that all current investigations will take into account the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant.

AFC Wimbledon last week heavily criticised the EFL's approach, writing in an open letter: "We are writing to openly express our disappointment over the recent spate of matches that member clubs have been unable to fulfil.

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“We also want to take this opportunity to call on the EFL to undertake its due processes and implement the strongest-possible measures to ensure that - where a club is able to fulfil a fixture - it does so.

“Further, where it is found that a club was unable to fulfil a fixture, they must be held to account for all decisions which led to that position.

"It just doesn’t sit right that, having gone above and beyond our means to ensure matches can be fulfilled, we will now be at a disadvantage - trying to navigate a very congested second half of the season with a small squad.

"Meanwhile, clubs with larger squads will have the upper hand, having been provided the opportunity to take a more relaxed approach knowing there will be no penalties for conduct that sits outside of the protocols.”

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They also called for the reintroduction of five substitutes per game, which was in place last year but abandoned at the start of this season.

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