Seven of this weekend’s English Premier League fixtures have been postponed, mainly because of concerns for the safety of spectators making their way to grounds in freezing conditions.
Yesterday’s Fulham v Portsmouth, Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers and Burnley v Stoke City matches were all called off on Friday, as was today’s Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur match at Anfield and the game between Hull City and leaders Chelsea after heavy snowfall in Hull.
Yesterday’s match between Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa was called off yesterday morning after the under-soil heating at the DW Stadium failed on Friday. Later yesterday morning, today’s clash between West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers also succumbed to the wintry conditions.
As a result of Chelsea’s match being postponed, second-placed Manchester United would go top if they won at in-form Birmingham City yesterday.
With much of Britain blanketed in thick snow, almost all this weekend’s fixtures in England’s lower divisions have been called off and only a handful of matches have survived in Scotland.
Although all Premier League clubs are required to have under-soil heating, which means the playing surfaces would be in good condition, iced-up streets surrounding the grounds mean there is a safety risk for supporters and clubs generally follow advice from local police in making a decision.
Clubs are also wary of delaying a decision to call off a match until the last possible minute for fear some supporters may have already embarked on long journeys, as happened to Bolton fans who had traveled to London for a midweek match at Arsenal, only for the game to be postponed in the afternoon.
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