Boxing Day fixtures start to fall as Covid chaos continues to grip football

Football's Boxing Day fixtures are already starting to fall as a result of the coronavirus outbreaks taking place at various clubs.

On Monday afternoon, Cardiff City announced that their Boxing Day Championship fixture at home to Coventry is off after an outbreak with Barnsley's game against Stoke also off.

If follows a similar announcement for three League Two clashes between Northampton Town and Walsall, Newport County and Forest Green Rovers and Bradford versus Harrogate.

A Cardiff statement said: "Following consultation with the EFL, Cardiff City regret to announce that Boxing Day's fixture with Coventry City has been postponed due to several cases of COVID-19 within the playing squad and staff."

Northampton informed the EFL that it would be unable to fulfil the fixture against the Saddlers at Sixfields due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases in their squad.

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Forest Green posted a statement saying: "Our Boxing Day fixture at home to Forest Green Rovers is postponed. Forest Green informed the EFL that it would be unable to fulfil the fixture at Rodney Parade due to a number of positive Covid-19 cases in their squad."

More games are likely to follow in the coming days.

Last weekend saw a total of 24 matches postponed across the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two.

The 20 top-flight clubs were due to meet on Monday afternoon to discuss the escalating crisis, with Omicron cases rising across the whole country. A similar meeting was believed to be taking place involving all 72 EFL clubs today too.

Hull City boss Grant McCann revealed the showdown talks following his side's 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest - one of only five Championship games to survive on Saturday.

Speaking to BBC Radio Humberside, McCann said: "I know there's going to be a meeting with all the EFL managers on Monday around this situation.

"For me, we have to keep going because what's the point in having a week break, or a two-week break? How long's this going to be?

"We want to continue playing, we understand the severity of it but for me, we want to try and continue as much as we can and play the games.

"What we do around the training ground, we have tight measures and the doctor plus the medical team are really good on that.

"To be honest, we've got a group of players who try and abide by the rules as much as they can. We don't know what the players or their families are doing outside of the club.

"All we can do is control the environment and that's what we're doing."

The EFL announced last week a tightening of restrictions around training and matches for clubs to help protect players and staff.

Regular testing and social distancing are just two of the protocols that were introduced in a bid to minimise the impact on what is hoped will be a busy festive schedule.

Boxing Day EFL postponements

Championship

Barnsley v Stoke

Cardiff v Coventry

League Two

Bradford v Harrogate

Newport County v Forest Green Rovers

Northampton Town v Walsall