Players must wear kit to train as EFL struggle with Covid guidelines

The measures are essential and teams are at increased risk of being sanctioned if they breach the new guidelines.

Indoor facilities like changing rooms and canteens must be closed, ventilated gymnasiums and other indoor areas are used, and it's been asked of teams use separate or multiple vehicles to travel to matches.

The measures come in the middle of rising Covid-19 rates and an increasing number of postponements.

Individual circumstances, like financial aspect of additional transportation, stop the

EFL

from giving out the new protocols as uniformly unreachable, the PA news agency realizes it will clamp down on affected teams who are seen to have disregarded its guidelines.

Every postponement for coronavirus issues is directed to an exclusive investigation by the league, with the possibility for fines or points deductions if teams are seen not to have good reason for calling them off.

Rotherham called two games off over Christmas after five players were affected by the virus, but manager Paul Warne said they felt obliged to play Tuesday’s fixture against Barnsley, for which they named just six players on the bench.

Speaking before the game, in which Rotherham was defeated 2-1, Warne said:

“I was advised that if we did not play the game, there would be retribution because I am going against medical advice.

“There was a fine with a possibility of a points deduction, which I do not want hanging over our heads.”

In a press conference before Saturday’s game with Cardiff, Warne spoke of the issues facing EFL clubs as they come along with the newly contracted guidelines.

“The EFL rules have changed again so now we are having to take three buses to every game,”

Warne said.

“No one is allowed in the gym, no indoor stuff, (and) the lads have to take their kit home and come in it to training.”

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