Tottenham boss Antonio Conte believes that the Premier League meeting with the managers on the welfare of the players is just like a waste of time.
The Premier League sheldule a meeting with the clubs manager and captains and also other senior players over the busy shedule in the festive period and also the welfare of the players.
Asked how he felt it went, Tottenham head coach Conte said: “I have to be honest I think that it was a meeting where we tried to speak, and some coaches tried to speak and ask about solutions.
“But I think that everything was decided. And I think yesterday was a wall, and for this reason also I don’t want to go into the discussion.”
Pressed on whether he felt it was a waste of time, Conte said: “I think so. Because when you have a wall in front of you, you can ask and speak about what you want, but every decision was taken.”
Conte also confirmed that the players who were all unavailable due to a recent Covid-19 outbreak in the squad are all back in training ahead of the Boxing Day visit of Crystal Palace, with only Cristian Romero and Ryan Sessegnon currently sidelined.
Premier League releases guidance over fixture postponements
Following calls from managers for transparency over why some matches have been called off and some have not, the Premier League has published guidance to explain its protocols for postponing fixtures.
Clubs have been told they must provide the following information when applying for a game to be postponed:
- Details of players and staff who have Covid, their vaccination status and – if known – the source of their infections
- Players and staff unavailable through injury and illness
- Players on the squad list who are still available, including ‘appropriately experienced’ U21 players
- Medical information to verify status of each unavailable player, which will be reviewed by the Premier League’s medical advisers
The Premier League will then consider the following factors when deciding whether to grant the request:
- Impact of Covid infections, injuries, illness and isolation on the squad, plus the number of first-team and ‘appropriately experienced’ U21 players available
- Matches will be postponed if a club does not have at least 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper available
- Status of any Covid outbreak at the club, including the number and source infections, and the proximity to the match
- Club’s ability to safely prepare its players
- Medical advice over whether there is an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of players and staff by playing the match
- Advice from UK Health Securities Agency and other public bodies
- Other exceptional circumstances
Source: Skysports
