Leeds United's FA Cup opponents Crawley Town to get FA-funded Covid-19 testing before Sunday's BBC-screened clash

Leeds United's FA Cup opponents Crawley Town will have their Covid-19 testing for next weekend's tie funded by the Football Association.
CUP CLASH - Crawley Town will host Leeds United on Sunday in the FA Cup, after having a round of Covid-19 tests 72 hours prior. Pic: GettyCUP CLASH - Crawley Town will host Leeds United on Sunday in the FA Cup, after having a round of Covid-19 tests 72 hours prior. Pic: Getty
CUP CLASH - Crawley Town will host Leeds United on Sunday in the FA Cup, after having a round of Covid-19 tests 72 hours prior. Pic: Getty

The FA's annual competition guidance, issued to all competing clubs, includes protocols regarding Covid-19 this season and states that all clubs are required to be tested prior to FA Cup third round games.

FA Cup testing for clubs outside the Premier League is being paid for by the FA and Crawley must be tested 72 hours before Sunday's game against the Whites.

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The protocols also state that any club unable to fulfil their tie due to Covid-19 must make an application to the FA for review.

EFL clubs have not been required to undergo regular testing this season, although all 72 clubs were due to have a full round of mandatory tests this week in response to the rise in cases across the country and a spate of fixtures being called off due to positive tests. More than 40 games in the EFL fell victim to Covid-19 in December.

Up until now, the EFL have relied on medical advice that training and matchday protocols would be sufficient to protect players and staff from the risk of infection, but The Telegraph report that twice weekly testing is on its way for clubs outside the Premier League.

Premier League players and staff members are now being tested twice weekly, in response to an increase in positive tests. Late last month the Premier League confirmed a record high of positive tests and both Manchester City's game against Everton and Spurs' clash with Fulham were postponed.

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Anyone testing positive must isolate for 10 days. Earlier in the season Leeds lost Spanish international forward Rodrigo for two games after he tested positive for the virus.

Sunday's FA Cup tie between the League Two outfit and Marcelo Bielsa's midtable Premier League side will be shown live by the BBC, with a 1.30pm kick-off.

Crawley boss John Yems has described it as the 'biggest home game' in the history of the club.