COVID-19 continues to affect the European sports program with another Burnley game in the Premier League postponed and French travel regulations concerning concern.
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Burnley's game with Watford on Tuesday night was postponed after the Premier League accepted the rock-bottom Clarets' application that they had fewer than the required number of players available.
Manager Sean Dyche, speaking at a press conference to preview Tuesday's match, revealed only 10 first-team players took part in training on Monday before the club applied for the postponement.
Premier League guidance says clubs should have a minimum of 13 outfield players and one goalkeeper available for a match to go ahead.
Dyche said the relegation-threatened club were in a worse position than they had been before the Premier League agreed to call off Saturday's match against Leicester.
Burnley last played on January 8, when they were without seven players for the 2-1 FA Cup loss to Championship side Huddersfield, a match which was also missed by Dyche and coach Steve Stone after positive tests.
Dyche's side have played only 17 Premier League games, the fewest of any team, and sit bottom of the table -- three points shy of 17th-placed Watford.
They last played in the League on January 2.
Meanwhile, English rugby league clubs have expressed concern at new French regulations requiring all visiting sports people to be vaccinated.
Forthcoming laws requiring anyone wishing to enter the country's leisure, cultural and sports venues to be vaccinated against COVID-19 could affect the integrity of the Super League competition, Wakefield chief executive Michael Carter said.
Huddersfield are due to visit newly-promoted Toulouse on the opening weekend on February 12 while Wakefield will be the first visitors to Catalans a week later.
"I think I've got six out of our 33-man squad that are completely unvaccinated, while some have had one jab, some have had two and some have had the booster as well," Carter said.
It is thought the numbers at Wakefield are representative of Super League as a whole, with between 80 and 85 per cent of players double-vaccinated.
"It's back to the old question of integrity of the competition because, if those rules change later in the season, teams could be allowed to travel with full-strength squads," Carter said.
with PA
Australian Associated Press
