Following medical guidance, the Premier League Board has postponed Everton's match with Leicester City at Goodison Park, which was due to take place on Sunday, due to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases within Leicester's squad.
Leicester applied for the fixture to be postponed due to an ongoing outbreak within the club, which also resulted in the postponement of the Foxes' scheduled clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
In considering any application to postpone, the Premier League Board considers a range of sporting and medical factors and each decision is taken on a case-by-case basis.
Everton appreciates that there will be many supporters who will be inconvenienced with the fixture postponement and we sincerely apologise for the disruption, which was out of our control, but we respect the Premier League’s decision and acknowledge that the health and safety of both clubs’ players and staff must always come first.
An announcement on the rearranged match details will be confirmed and communicated on evertonfc.com in due course.
All match tickets will remain valid for the rearranged fixture.
A Premier League statement, released on Thursday, read: "Leicester City FC have a COVID-19 outbreak within the squad which has left the club with an insufficient number of players available to fulfil the game. The club’s first team training ground was closed this morning to help contain the outbreak.
"The Board assesses applications to postpone matches on a case-by-case basis, based on existing rules and COVID-19 postponement guidance issued to all clubs. It will assess a number of factors, including the ability of a club to field a team; the status, severity and potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak at the club; and the ability of the players to safely prepare for and play the match. The Board must also consider the wider risks to the opposition and other people the club representatives may come into contact with.
"With the health and wellbeing of all players and staff the priority, and in light of the recent rise in COVID-19 cases across the country, the Premier League has reintroduced Emergency Measures. These include protocols such as more frequent testing, wearing face coverings while indoors, observing social distancing and limiting treatment time."
