The Premier League threw out Crystal Palace’s attempts to postpone their clash against Tottenham despite Patrick Vieira’s side received a fresh batch of positive tests late on Christmas Day.
Both clubs were forced to issue statements on Boxing Day morning to clarify the Premier League was going ahead following reports the match had been postponed.
And Sportsmail can outline the sequence of events that led to top-flight officials deciding that the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium should go ahead - a ruling that has angered Palace staff.
Having already been affected by a spate of positive tests within the first-team set-up, Eagles chiefs had already alerted the Premier League of the ongoing situation at the club’s training ground ahead of the fixture against Antonio Conte’s side.