Tottenham’s Carabao Cup tie at Leyton Orient has been called off but a decision delayed on whether to award the Premier League club a walkover after the majority of Orient’s first-team squad tested positive for Covid-19.
Orient announced on Monday that they had closed their stadium and training ground until further notice and it has been confirmed the tie will not go ahead as planned on Tuesday evening.
Both clubs, the EFL, Public Health England and the director for public health in Waltham Forest, the local authority, were involved in discussions which led to the decision.
Under Carabao Cup rules Orient should forfeit the match and Spurs advance to the fourth round to host Chelsea or Barnsley next midweek; that rule was brought in this season with coronavirus in mind. But Orient have argued that they should be given the chance to reschedule the game, although the fourth round ties are due to take place next week.
“Discussions are ongoing between the relevant stakeholders in regards to the implications of the decision not to play tonight’s game and a further update will be provided in due course,” the EFL said.
“Leyton Orient, the EFL and the relevant authorities are conducting a thorough review of the club’s Covid-19 secure procedures with the view to reopening the stadium and training ground as soon as possible.”
Tottenham are facing a congested schedule, with a trip to north Macedonia to play Shkendija in the third qualifying round of the Europa League on Thursday and, should they progress, they will have four games in 10 days, including Premier League matches against Newcastle and Manchester United.
The EFL is regularly reviewing its regulations and protocols but some clubs, including Stevenage of League Two, are considering returning to weekly testing in the wake of Orient’s positive tests. Tottenham paid about £5,000 for the round of tests.
“We are having to look at it again,” said the Stevenage chairman, Phil Wallace. “The only reason we are talking about Orient is that to play the Spurs game they had to have the tests. I don’t know what would happen now if you went round all the EFL clubs and had the tests. Maybe something similar.”
