MillionMilesAway
Well-Known Member
Hmmm, I've read some takes on it, that suggests there is one but it was to do with injuries and nothing to do with COVID. Just that they added U23/21 players to the available players after the restart last season. So rather than create a new rule, they just updated an old one, to get the desired effect.
Suppose I should read the PL Handbook myself rather than hoping others will provide the quote.
Edit: Can't find any 14 player rule. So as you said, it was probably a guideline given in a meeting before the season started. The handbook does say the PL board has the authority to postpone any match. So much for all "the rules say this" rants, with many of them being made by journalists, which doesn't help either.
This American broadcaster seems to be putting UK ones to shame, with their take on it(although overcautious is not the right term):
https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2020/12/29/premier-league-covid-break-latest-news/
That excerpt nails it perfectly.
The rest is fairly secondary to "we decided to take the safest approach".