LONDON (Reuters) - Three Blackburn Rovers players and two members of staff have caught H1N1 swine flu but Tuesday's League Cup fourth-round match against Peterborough United will go ahead as scheduled, the Premier League club said.
"There has been a lot of speculation in the national media following confirmation of sickness within the camp, but we can reassure all supporters the match will go ahead as planned," club secretary Andrew Pincher confirmed in a statement on Blackburn's website (www.rovers.co.uk) on Monday.
Manager Sam Allardyce told reporters three players had contracted the virus, with Chris Samba and David Dunn two of the those who missed Saturday's 5-0 Premier League drubbing at Chelsea.
"We have had more cases this morning, one more player and there are a couple of staff."
Premier League rules do not allow clubs to call off matches because of outbreaks of swine flu following guidelines issued earlier in the year.
The postponement of a Ligue 1 match between Olympique Marseille and Paris St Germain in France on Sunday because of an outbreak of the virus among PSG players led to clashes between rival fans with police making 18 arrests.
(Editing by Alison Wildey)
