The coronavirus is making it difficult to schedule the FA Cup, the oldest competition in the world, which was due to start this Friday with the third round matches. The match between Southampton and Shrewsbury Town has been postponed due to the various cases of Covid-19 affecting the League One team.
The meeting, scheduled for this Saturday, January 9, cannot be played as scheduled due to the Shrewsbury coronavirus cases.
“The match that we were supposed to face this Saturday against Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup will not take place as scheduled due to the positives for COVID-19 in our rival,” Southampton reported on their Twitter account.
The FA (Foot Association) should meet next week to find out what happens with this tie.
Southampton-Shrewsbury Town is not the only match affected by the coronavirus. The match between Chorley and Wayne Rooney's Derby County can be played but altered by the outbreak that forced the Rams to close their sports facilities last Monday. In principle it will not be suspended, although the Derby will have several casualties for the match.
Villa-Liverpool at risk
The match between Aston Villa and Liverpool, scheduled for this Friday the 8th, is also on the air. Villa announced that it has experienced a “significant” coronavirus outbreak on the eve of the tie.
Several players and members of the technical ‘staff’ are isolated after testing positive on Monday. The training ground was closed on Thursday after a second round of testing showed more positives, putting the duel against Liverpool in check.
“Discussions are ongoing between the club's medical representatives, the Football Association and the Premier League,” Villa said in a statement.