LONDON (AP) — Britain’s cold weather has disrupted the weekend Premier League program with five matches called off Friday by clubs concerned about icy roads and railway disruptions to stadiums.
Four matches scheduled for Saturday — leader Chelsea’s trip to Hull, Fulham against Portsmouth, Burnley versus Stoke and Sunderland against Bolton — have been postponed.
Liverpool’s match against Tottenham on Sunday was called off because of icy conditions on the roads outside Anfield.
Wigan’s home game against Aston Villa is in doubt after the underground heating at the DW Stadium failed Friday. A field inspection will be held early Saturday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains hopeful that Saturday’s home match against Everton will go ahead despite Emirates Stadium officials calling off the game with Bolton on Wednesday just 4 hours before kickoff.
While most fields are playable, there is widespread disruption on the railways and roads. But Wenger is unhappy at the caution exercised by clubs.
“It is the price we pay for living in a society where everybody wants 100 percent security,” Wenger said. “Nobody accepts any risk any more and everybody is always guided by fear.”
Wenger added that if a match is called off, the whole program should be rescheduled.
Six of the 10 League Championship matches were affected by the country’s coldest spell for more than 30 years. The freezing conditions have also wreaked havoc on the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, with the majority of the 16 matches called off.
Some horse racing in Britain has also been canceled