Bristol City announce Saturday’s Championship clash with Brentford has been postponed over fears of a Covid-19 outbreak in their squad with several players showing symptoms
- Bristol City said coronavirus symptoms became evident on New Year’s Day
- A closure of a Covid testing facility meant players and staff could not be tested
- They therefore released a statement saying the Brentford match is postponed
- Thomas Frank’s men sit second in the Championship while City are in 10th
Bristol City have announced their Championship match at Brentford on Saturday has been postponed.
In a statement on their official website, the Robins said coronavirus symptoms had become evident within their squad on New Year’s Day.
And they said the Bank Holiday closure of a testing facility meant it had not been possible to arrange the testing of the entire squad and backroom staff ahead of Saturday’s match.
Bristol City have announced their Championship match at Brentford has been postponed
The statement on Bristol’s website added: ‘Following discussions with Brentford and the English Football League the decision has been taken to postpone the game for the safety of players and staff of both clubs.
‘A new date for the fixture will be announced in due course.’
An EFL statement meanwhile read: ‘Tomorrow’s Sky Bet Championship fixture between Brentford and Bristol City has been suspended.
‘Bristol City informed the EFL that they would be unable to safely fulfil the fixture following symptoms becoming evident within the club’s squad and the requirement for players and staff to self-isolate as per EFL and government guidance.
The Bank Holiday closure of a testing facility meant they had no option but to postpone it
‘Due to the New Year Bank Holiday closure of the testing laboratory, the club were unable to arrange the testing of the entire squad and backroom staff ahead of tomorrow’s match at the Brentford Community Stadium.
‘The circumstances surrounding the postponement will now be the subject of an investigation in accordance with EFL regulations.
‘Revised dates for the rearranged fixtures will be confirmed in due course.’
Thomas Frank’s Brentford currently sit second in the Championship and were heading into the game on a 15-game unbeaten run.
Thomas Frank’s men sit second in the Championship table and are unbeaten in 15 games
City meanwhile are 10th in the table, four points adrift off the play-off positions but on a poor run of form having suffered defeat in four of their last five matches.
This is the second time City have suffered issues with coronavirus already this season, after they were forced to close their Failand training ground following a series of positive tests for staff and players.
However, those positive tests took place in November during the international break, and therefore their following game against Derby was still allowed to go ahead with 10 days of self-isolation completed before the fixture.
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