Irish League games postponed due to ‘Covid Case Policy’

The NIFL statement read: “The NI Football League can advise supporters of the postponement of Glenavon v Carrick Rangers tomorrow (Saturday 14 November).

“The postponement has been confirmed in line with the NI Football League’s Covid Case Policy.

“In addition, Carrick Rangers v Coleraine (Saturday 21 November) in the Danske Bank Premiership has also been postponed.”

A statement on the Carrick Rangers website read as follows: “Carrick Rangers have been advised by the Public Health Authority (PHA) that 14 players need to self isolate due to the fact they were in close proximity to several people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

“Carrick Rangers can confirm that none of our players, staff and officials have presently tested positive or are showing any symptoms.

“This unfortunately means that our upcoming games against Glenavon and Coleraine will be postponed in line with the NI Football League’s Covid Case Policy.”

In relation to the latest NI Executive announcement over a ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown by an additional two weeks, the Irish Football Association earlier confirmed “all football training and matches below elite level remain suspended until this extension is concluded”.

“In light of yesterday’s decision by the Northern Ireland Executive to extend the ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown by two weeks, all football training and matches below elite level remain suspended until this extension is concluded,” read the IFA statement. “This includes Irish FA Foundation programmes, including Electric Ireland Shooting Stars and McDonald’s Fun Football, and protocols laid out in the Irish FA’s ‘A Return to the Everyday Game’ document remain suspended until the extension is concluded.”

NIFL confirmed officials “will be meeting with Championship and Premier Intermediate clubs early next week through their respective league management committees to agree a new start date for both leagues” and that “start dates for the Development Leagues (Under-20) and resumption of Academy Leagues (Under-18 and Under-16) will be considered next week and communicated at the earliest availability”.