Sunderland AFC Q&A: Should game have been postponed and what happens next? Phil Smith examines key Covid-19 outbreak questions

The fallout from events on Tuesday evening has been significant with the club and EFL both releasing statements with uncertainty now over the weekend trip to Shrewsbury Town.

Phil Smith takes a look at some of the key issues:

How did the events pan out in the build up to the game and what was Sunderland's stance?

A Sunderland player began displaying symptoms on Sunday.

They were then tested for COVID-19 and once a positive test was returned, the club then began to establish which other players would have to self-isolate.

This was in line with the EFL and government protocols established to try and contain any outbreak.

It was a fluid situation as Tuesday developed, with Lee Johnson on multiple occasions having to change his starting XI and squad as the situation developed.

Sunderland contacted the EFL to ascertain whether they would be able to postpone the fixture, as it became clear that a significant number of their senior squad would be unavailable.

This is where the issue essentially lay.

The EFL said that Sunderland could postpone the game, but that they would then be subject to an investigation and a potential sanction once concluded.

The decision is left with the club.

Bristol Rovers, for example, opted to postpone their game against Charlton Athletic after a similar outbreak.

Sunderland took the view that with no clarity on what the investigation would entail, the risk of sanction was too great.

As such, they opted to play the game with a depleted squad.

What has happened in other circumstances where clubs have postponed fixtures after an outbreak?

There have been no conclusions from the investigations so far, and as such, no precedent set.

This was one of the key issues that Lee Johnson identified after the game.

What happens, he asked, if Bristol Rovers are not sanctioned, and go on to win their rearranged game with a full-strength XI?

Have Sunderland followed all the protocols put in place by the EFL?

In a statement on Tuesday night, Sunderland said: "The club introduced wide-ranging protocols to protect its players and staff following the initial outbreak of coronavirus in the United Kingdom in March, including the closure of the Stadium of Light and the Academy of Light.

"Since returning to training ahead of the 2020-21 season, SAFC has continued to follow these comprehensive protocols to the letter and adhered to all of the latest advice and guidance provided by the Government and the EFL."

Johnson did say post-match that the club would thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the outbreak.

What has the EFL said?

The EFL released a statement this morning, saying: "The safety and well-being of players is a priority and the protocols that have been developed are designed to protect individuals and, if followed, will help prevent the spread of infection.

“All EFL clubs are aware of the processes and steps needed to take in the event of positive cases of COVID-19 and the impact this could have on their wider playing squads.

“Throughout our extensive discussions on Tuesday it was made clear to the management of Sunderland that the option existed for them to inform the League they were unable to fulfil the fixture, but this would result in the circumstances being investigated as a result of the club being required to fulfil their fixture obligations in accordance with the regulations.

“This is consistent with the approach taken with other clubs who have been faced with similar situations and the requirement to self-isolate players and staff in line with EFL and Government guidance.

“As Sunderland has confirmed they opted not to do this for the reasons they have identified and to play in the fixture. That decision rested with the club as only they can make the determination on whether they had sufficient players available from their squad to fulfil the fixture."

This essentially confirmed the pattern of events as had been understood.

Sunderland could have postponed the game, but did not as they felt they had not been given clarity on the consequences of making that decision.

Should Sunderland have just postponed on safety grounds, and accepted any consequences?

It's a fair question, and Johnson was clear after the game that he felt the game should not have gone ahead.

"Me personally, I didn't want to play the game. Not because I didn't think we could win the game, but because I thought it was dangerous.

"Dangerous for the young boys and dangerous for the opposition as well because we don't know - there's talk of first strains, second strains, we just don't know.

"Until everybody is vaccinated, if that is the way the country goes, it's going to be up and down so why would you not err on the side of caution and protect people?

"But that hasn't happened for whatever reason."

Johnson stressed that it had been a fast-moving situation, and criticised the fact that there is still so little clarity around protocols when the pandemic has been around for so long.

What happens with the Shrewsbury and Blackpool games?

At this stage it remains unclear.

As happened on Tuesday, the decision will ultimately rest with Sunderland.

All players currently self-isolating have been tested, and the results of these tests will then dictate whether anyone else will also need to isolate.

Johnson has said that he feels the whole squad and staff should be tested as a result of the outbreak, but that had not yet been definitively decided.

When the Championship returned in the summer, testing was mandatory twice a week. That is no longer the case, with testing occurring on a significantly less frequent basis.

Johnson said shutting the training ground would have to be a consideration in the days ahead, depending on how the outbreak develops.

That would clearly put the fixtures ahead in major doubt.

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