Moyes ‘not happy’ with current Premier League rules on Covid outbreaks
David Moyes has called for more clarity from the Premier League over what would be needed for a game to be called off in order to end uncertainty at clubs.
West Ham had largely been free from cases of Covid this month but Moyes confirmed on Tuesday that at least two members of club staff had tested positive and said that some players are “involved”.
Six Premier League fixtures, including West Ham’s game against Norwich on Saturday, were postponed over the weekend due to outbreaks though Wednesday’s game against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup is set to go ahead.
Moyes though fears the uncertainty over what it takes for a fixture to be called off is more damaging than a number of cases and also fears that West Ham may be punished for playing a number of academy players this season.
“The players are involved in it as well but I’ve said in the main we’re in a really good place with it,” Moyes said of their small number of cases.
“I couldn’t say we’re badly affected by it. But we have had Covid and we’re trying our best to get rid of it.”
Moyes, who used eight academy players this season, added: “We’re probably thinking it’s nearly impossible that we will have a game called off, we’d need to have nearly a complete wipe-out here, because they’ve added all our young players onto it.
“So you’re getting punished and I’m not sure that’s correct.
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“You know, some clubs have been able to shut down and get periods to get it right, yet if you have three or four or five cases which we’ve seen, some clubs have been made to play in recent weeks, with three, four or five cases.
“It’s more the uncertainty around the team than anything else. Now if you’re told to shut down there is no uncertainty. It’s clear, concise, you won’t be playing for 10 days you’ll be isolating, and we’ll bring you back when the time is ready.
“But other clubs are getting three or four or five cases around the club, you’re finding that that’s the uncertainty. And I think that’s the bit which is not clear.”