Gillingham boss Steve Evans has made his feelings very clear about matches being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With several games affected across the Christmas period including the Gills home game against Peterborough United, the League One manager thinks fans and those in the game must have a clear sense of duty to player safety.
When asked about the current situation Evans was very straight with his response.
“Any game postponed because of COVID is one we must all understand,” he said on the Gills website.
“I am sick of watching people continually have no regard for the rules and staying safe, this virus will not go away until we follow the guidelines.”
Hull City have seen their match against Lincoln on 29 December called off due to positive tests within the Tigers camp and Rochdale’s match with Blackpool has also suffered a similar fate.
They are the latest in a string of postponements caused due to the virus this season and they are unlikely to be the last.
Steve Evans has spoken about his frustration earlier in the campaign when Fleetwood travelled to Gillingham from a tier three area and the former Leeds United boss insisted on separating the teams at a greater distance than usual on the touchline.
“You cannot send them (Fleetwood) from a tier three area without a test and put hotels and everyone on that pitch at risk,” Evans told BBC Radio Kent at the time.
“That’s why the benches were separated, because I insisted on it. Everyone was at risk in this stadium today.
“In my opinion, and the professional medical opinion at the club, there would have been Covid off that team coach today or a probability of it.”
Gillingham are coming off the back of an impressive 4-1 victory at Rochdale and will face two road games next when they travel to Northampton on December 29 before playing at Plymouth on 02 January.