Tuesday's League Cup third round match between Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur has been postponed after a number of Orient players tested positive for Covid-19, the Football League has confirmed.
Orient announced on Monday that some of their players had tested positive and that its Breyer Group Stadium and training ground facilities would be closed until further notice.
"Tonight's Carabao Cup match between Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur is not taking place this evening as scheduled," an EFL statement said.
"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." Tottenham also confirmed the match was off.
It was not clear whether Tottenham had been awarded victory by default or whether the match would be re-scheduled.
Fourth-tier Orient had also informed Mansfield Town, Plymouth Argyle and Oldham Athletic - three of their most recent opponents - prior to the public release of the information.
It is a bitter blow to Orient who would have been looking forward to a £150,000 windfall with the game scheduled to be screened live on Sky Sports.
Orient owner Nigel Travis they had been looking forward to a welcome financial boost after the coronavirus pandemic ended last season early and continues to rob small clubs of matchday revenue with fans not permitted to attend games.
"The coronavirus has added £1.5 million to our losses and this game would have contributed about £150,000 to offset those losses, so this is a big blow," he said.
"We think the appropriate action is for this game to take place," he added.
"If we don't play the game and are forced to forfeit, it's a demonstration that doing the right thing doesn't work. It would be an incentive not to test."
Tottenham actually paid for the Covid-19 testing of Orient's players and staff which produced a significant number of positives, Travis confirmed.
"We are working with the EFL to see how it happened and the possible cause," Travis said.
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Southampton v Tottenham player ratings
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SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Alex McCarthy – 5: Stuttered when he should’ve come for Kane’s through ball and hesitation allowed Son to equalise. From there, constantly left too exposed by his defence. Reuters -
Kyle Walker-Peters – 6: Assist against his former club with long pass in behind to Ings. Initially handled Son well, but was a culpable component in his side’s horrendous high line. EPA -
Jack Stephens – 4: A day to forget. Looked slow and cumbersome when pushing up and unable to recover. Booked for foul on Lo Celso. Daydreaming for Spurs’ final goal. Reuters -
Jan Bednarek - 4: Ditto to his partner at centre-back. Run ragged in the second half, leaving acres of space in behind. Couldn't handle Kane as striker dropped deep. AFP -
Ryan Bertrand – 4: Completed a botched back four for the hosts. Harshly booked just before half time, then afternoon careered downhill from there. Reuters -
Stuart Armstrong - 5: Quiet first half, had a half-chance at start of second but was largely ineffectual. Was hooked on 68 minutes as home side fell apart. Reuters -
James Ward-Prowse – 5: Controlled midfield in the first half, disappeared in the second, especially once buffer in Romeu departed. That said, as captain he needed to offer more. AFP -
Oriol Romeu - 4: Had decency to wait all of five minutes to get his customary yellow card. Taken off 10 minutes into second half knowing he was on final warning from the referee. All things considered, a reprieve. AFP -
Moussa Djenepo – 7: Created havoc whenever ran at Doherty on the left, struck a post in the first half. Was involved in award of team’s late penalty. AFP -
Danny Ings – 8: ‘So, you want to buy me, Jose?’ Days after links to a Spurs transfer, scored brilliant goal with expert control and finish, then converted penalty at the death. AFP -
Che Adams – 6: Had two very presentable opportunities, one in either half, but shot both straight at Lloris. Booked in first half, subbed in final 10 minutes. Reuters -
SUBS: Will Smallbone (on for Romeu) - 5: On in 55th minute, just as the match was beginning to turn against his side. Probably would’ve preferred keeping on the tracksuit. Reuters -
Nathan Tella (on for Armstrong) - 5: Introduced with 22 minutes left, and largely ineffectual for all 22 of those – although he was hardly alone. AFP -
Shane Long (on for Adams) - 5: Irishman brought on for final 10 minutes, and didn’t have a chance to impact the match - which to be fair he struggles to do anyway. Result already secure. Reuters -
TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris – 6: The usual from the Frenchman - brilliant close-range save early on, then some rushes of blood to the head and a dodgy kick or two. All in a day’s work. Reuters -
Matt Doherty – 7: Denied an early assist by Son’s offside, and incredibly unlucky to give away a spot-kick for handball in closing stages. Nothing overly notable in between. Reuters -
Davinson Sanchez - 6: Relied on his pace to get out of trouble a couple of times, but was characteristically shaky in possession. There’s a quality defender in there, sometimes. Reuters -
Eric Dier – 6: That shift back to defence continues to foster mixed results. Completely caught out for Ings’ opening goal, looked more assured presence in much-easier second 45. AFP -
Ben Davies – 7: Sergio Reguilon’s signing might have given the steady-but-uninspiring Welshman some extra motivation. Excellent clearance in first-half saved certain goal. The rest very Davies. Reuters -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - 7: Back at his former home, would've “enjoyed” a lovely welcome back from Romeu, which looked nasty. Patrolled midfield after the interval. EPA -
Harry Winks - 6: The England international was less Iniesta and more Indifferent. Has struggled since reported illness limited his pre-season. Improved in second half, though. Reuters -
Tanguy Ndombele – 7: The conundrum continues. Off pace for most of first half, then moment of genuine magic helped team equalise. Subbed at half-time. Eat, sleep, repeat. Reuters -
Lucas Moura – 6: Offside when set up Kane on 26 minutes, then was his usual busy self. However, didn’t create much at all, and was subbed on the hour with an apparent knock. EPA -
Son Heung-min 9: Four goals, two with his left, two with his right. Blistering once breaking lines, clinical in front of goal. That’s 10 in 11 against Southampton. Bale who? AFP -
Harry Kane – 9: Obviously upset by having two goals disallowed, set about creating instead. All four assists to Son displayed he’s way more than a world-class centre-forward. Still, got tap-in for Spurs’ fifth. EPA -
SUBS: Giovani Lo Celso (on for Ndombele) - 8: On at half-time and made instant impact in pass to Kane to set up Spurs’ second. Clever and compact, and booked late on for good measure. So a typical display. Reuters -
Erik Lamela (on for Moura) - 7: Introduced for Moura on the hour, helped Spurs run away from their rivals with some smart passing and intelligent running. His saved shot teed up Kane for No 5. AFP -
Steven Bergwijn (on for Kane) – N/A: Brought on for Kane with four minutes left. Would've enjoyed the opportunity to stretch legs ahead of frantic period for his team. AFP
