EFL Statement: Postponed Fixtures

In total, 19 games have been postponed for this weekend’s round of EFL fixtures due to a rise in COVID-19 cases at clubs, with re-arrangements to be confirmed in due course.

Throughout the pandemic, supporting the health and safety of players, staff and supporters has been the EFL’s primary priority and supporting the wellbeing of the country with the rise of the Omicron variant is vital.

To help protect players, yesterday the EFL moved to implement a regime of enhanced training ground protocols, and increased testing, alongside encouraging all eligible players and staff to get fully vaccinated and a booster jab to help protect colleagues and minimise the risk of fixtures being postponed. More detail can be accessedhere.

The postponed fixtures for this weekend include:

POSTPONED FIXTURES – Saturday 18th December

Sky Bet Championship

Cardiff City v Derby County

Coventry City v Stoke City

Millwall v Preston

QPR v Swansea City

Reading v Luton Town

Sky Bet League One

AFC Wimbledon v Portsmouth

Bolton Wanderers v Wycombe Wanderers

Burton v MK Dons

Gillingham v Crewe Alexandra

Lincoln City v Doncaster Rovers

Sheffield Wednesday v Accrington Stanley

Sky Bet League Two

Carlisle United v Bradford City

Colchester United v Hartlepool United

Crawley Town v Oldham Athletic

Forest Green Rovers v Mansfield Town

Northampton Town v Barrow

Port Vale v Exeter City

Scunthorpe United v Bristol Rovers

Swindon Town v Walsall

With the EFL’s second priority to ensure fixtures can continue as scheduled where possible, revised guidance has also been issued to help clubs determine the circumstances where games can go ahead.

Throughout the pandemic, EFL clubs have been working hard to implement safety measures at stadia to ensure that fans can continue to attend matches and watch games with confidence.

In total, 17 EFL fixtures remain scheduled to place this weekend, and with the requirement for COVID Certification now required where larger attendances are expected, the League wants to remind all supporters who are travelling to games to Be Prepared. Supporters are encouraged to familiarise themselves with club safety measures and to bring a face covering to wear on concourses and indoors.

See hereand below for information on attending matches and COVID Certification.

SCHEDULED FIXTURES

Sky Bet Championship

Friday 17 December

Barnsley v West Bromwich Albion

Saturday 18 December

Middlesbrough v Bournemouth

Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City

Blackpool v Peterborough United

Bristol City v Huddersfield Town

Nottingham Forest v Hull City

Monday 20 December

Fulham v Sheffield United

Sky Bet League One

Saturday 18 December

Cambridge United v Rotherham United

Ipswich Town v Sunderland

Morecambe v Fleetwood Town

Oxford United v Wigan Athletic

Plymouth Argyle v Charlton Athletic

Shrewsbury Town v Cheltenham Town

Sky Bet League Two

Saturday 18 December

Rochdale v Newport County

Salford City v Stevenage

Sutton United v Harrogate Town

Tranmere Rovers v Leyton Orient

BE PREPARED

The EFL wants to remind all supporters who are travelling to the games to Be Prepared.

COVID-19 Certification is now mandatory for entry into settings where large crowds gather – including unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees, unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees and any event with 10,000 or more attendees.

As a result, supporters will need to Be Prepared to provide evidence of COVID-19 Certification to enter football stadia where the attendance will exceed 10,000 seated or 4,000 standing.

COVID PASS

To ensure that fans can continue watching their teams in person this season in a safe manner, it is imperative that all football supporters play their part by ensuring they have a valid COVID-19 Pass or negative Lateral Flow test result in advance of matchday.

For full details about the NHS COVID Pass, which includes information on how to obtain valid certification of the COVID-19 vaccine, please CLICK HERE.

To Be Prepared, those of you who are attending fixtures, where COVID-19 Certification is mandatory, are advised to:

• Check the club’s latest COVID-19 guidance in advance of matchday and read its COVID Code of Conduct.
• Ensure you have a valid form of COVID certification in your possession before you leave for the ground or you will not be permitted entry.
• The best form of Certification is the COVID pass. You can download the COVID digital pass using the designated NHS App or to your wallet or camera roll in case there is no signal.
• Bring your original printed NHS COVID Pass on the day of the fixture if you are unable to use the digital version.
• A negative Lateral Flow test result will be permissible should you be unable to provide a COVID pass
• Make sure your passes are easily accessible to ensure efficiency and speed of access when approaching the turnstiles.

TEST BEFORE TRAVEL

Full details on how to obtain a COVID NHS Pass can be found above, but for supporters who are not yet double vaccinated, you will need to take a lateral flow test within 48 hours of attending the match.

If the test returns a positive result, then supporters must NOT attend the fixture and follow the correct procedures as advised by the NHS. Further information about COVID-19 is availableHERE.

DON’T TRAVEL IF UNWELL

Even if double-vaccinated, supporters must not attend if they, or anybody attending with them, is suffering from COVID-19 symptoms, feels unwell, or is required to self-isolate.

USEFUL LINKS

• How to get an NHS COVID Pass -nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-pass/
• How to download a digital NHS COVID Pass - nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/get-digital-covid-pass/
• Further information about COVID-19 - nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

LIFEBUOY

Through Lifebuoy’s partnership with the EFL as Hygiene Partner they have been helping clubs set themselves up for the safe return of fans as they know what an integral role football plays in the lives of so many families.

Lifebuoy have a dedicated ‘Tips & Advice’ portal on their website, providing useful information on why handwashing matters, when to wash your hands, and advice on the products that best suit you.

You can visit their here: lifebuoy.co.uk/tips-and-advice.html