Newcastle United have become the first side to postpone a Premier League game because of COVID-19.
Friday night's game with Aston Villa at Villa Park is off, with several Newcastle players self-isolating.
The club's Training Centre has also been temporarily closed down.
Newcastle say their squad is unable to prepare for Friday's fixture, and made an appeal to the Premier League to postpone the game, one that has been agreed to by the Premier League board.
The Premier League say, "Newcastle correctly notified PHE (Public Health England) regarding a number of positive COVID-19 test results, which is standard practice under Government and Premier League guidelines.
"PHE convened a meeting with Newcastle and the Premier League yesterday to assess the situation and advised the club’s training ground should remain closed and no group training would be permitted between players until Friday at the earliest.
"All players and training ground staff will be re-tested this week and another meeting between the club, PHE and the Premier League will take place to assess the test results."
Newcastle United statement:
Newcastle United’s Premier League fixture at Aston Villa on Friday 4th December has been postponed following a significant increase in Covid-19 cases at the Magpies’ Training Centre.
Several Newcastle United players and staff members are now self-isolating at home after returning positive test results in recent days and the club’s Training Centre site has been temporarily closed in order to contain the spread of the virus.
With the Magpies’ first team currently unable to prepare for the match as a group, Newcastle United lodged a request with the Premier League to postpone the fixture at Villa Park, which has been approved by the Premier League Board.
The match, which was set to kick off at 8pm on Friday evening, will now be rescheduled and a new date and time will be confirmed in due course.
Newcastle United would like to thank Aston Villa Football Club for its understanding. Newcastle United was one of the first clubs in the country to close its training ground prior to the first national lockdown in March and the club introduced comprehensive Covid-19 protocols in line with Premier League and government guidance to protect its players and staff ahead of Project Restart.
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