Ilkeston Town defend decision to refuse to play FA Trophy tie at AFC Rushden and Diamonds

Ilkeston Town say it was right not to travel to AFC Rushden and Diamonds on safety grounds.

The Robins refused to travel for health and safety reasons after a Rushden player tested positive for COVID-19

It led to the Northamptonshire side being given a walkover into the next round by the FA.

A club spokesman said: “Whilst we are disappointed to no longer be involved in the competition, the decision came as no surprise and we wish AFC Rushden & Diamonds good luck for the next round and send our good wishes to the player who has tested positive for Covid-19.

“We understand that football is treated slightly differently to other environments in respect of legislation and rules and are happy that our scheduled opponents and the Football Association followed the designated guidelines.

“We felt, however, that the current guidelines for COVID-19 in football contradict the rules considerably in everyday life.

“We felt that a positive case of COVID within a group of players only given eight days out of the required 14 to show symptoms, was enough to see our attendance as a gamble with our players’ and staff’s health.

“This was a gamble we will never knowingly be prepared to take.

“Combine the positive test with further players feeling unwell and Diamonds’ previous and following league fixtures being postponed, this only helped force a very difficult and unpopular decision.”

But AFC Rushen and Diamonds said the game could have gone ahead with no health concerns.

"AFC Rushden & Diamonds feel that there are no health and safety grounds which would have prevented the club from fulfilling the fixture,” a spokesman said.

"We have, at all times, followed the FA’s and Goverment COVID-19 guidance. Our COVID-19 officers carefully considered all relevant factors before concluding it was safe for the game to proceed.

"Public Health Northants have confirmed that they are happy with the precautions and that no further specific action is necessary in relation to this positive case.”