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Leyton Orient vs Tottenham OFF tonight; fate of Carabao Cup tie remains unclear

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Tottenham's Carabao Cup tie at Leyton Orient tonight was finally cancelled by the Football League just three hours before kick-off - but discussions are "ongoing" about whether the third-round tie could be rescheduled for a later date.

After a day of confusion, the EFL announced the game, which was scheduled to kick-off at 6pm BST, would not go ahead due to an outbreak of coronavirus cases at the League Two club.

The decision not to hold the match was made by Public Health England, following discussions with the EFL and Orient over the past 24 hours.

Under EFL rules, if a club is unable to fulfil a fixture due to positive coronavirus cases, they forfeit the tie with their opponents receiving a bye to the next round.

However, the EFL decided against making a decision on the outcome of the fixture on Tuesday, saying in a statement: "Tonight’s Carabao Cup match between Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur is not taking place this evening as scheduled.

"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.

"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."

Orient chairman Nigel Travis spent the day lobbying EFL chief executive Rick Parry in a bid to ensure the match could be rescheduled, rather than cancelled.

Spurs have a more packed schedule than any other English club, with potential Europa League qualifiers on the next two Thursdays, and the fourth round – against either Chelsea or Barnsley – scheduled for next Tuesday.

They had already lobbied the EFL to have the game moved and will not be impressed at learning of the prospect of a postponement.

On Tuesday morning, Travis told talkSPORT: "We have talked to the EFL and we are assuming this is a postponement.

"We’re going to lose £2.5million this year, also anything that can help us reduce that loss is clearly important. We are struggling, so games like this have to take place.

"We have a great relationship with Spurs, we’ve looked at their fixtures and this game can be played. There has to be a will, because this game is worth £150,000 profit to us, so we have to play this game.

"I recognise the guidelines and we have spoken to the league about extenuating circumstances. I can assure you, we will not be the first club facing this this year. Even Man City had a player test positive recently.

"We expect this game to be played and we will campaign very strongly for this game to be played. Clubs of our size depend on games like this."

Spurs paid to have Orient's testing after their 2-2 draw with Mansfield on Saturday because it is not a requirement for EFL clubs to be regularly tested.

Other top-flight clubs, including Chelsea and Liverpool, have also paid for lower-league opponents to be tested but there is no obligation for EFL clubs to accept such offers.

Orient announced "a number of the first-team squad" had tested positive on Monday afternoon before all the results had been returned.

The Breyer Group Stadium and Orient's training ground are set to remain closed while the EFL works with the club and relevant authorities to review its Covid-19 secure procedures, while a decision on their league match at Walsall, due to take place on Saturday, will be determined later this week.

Orient's recent opponents Plymouth Argyle and Oldham Athletic were all informed of the situation on Monday, with the EFL set to contact them to arrange testing, while Mansfield have lodged a formal complaint with the EFL and want to be reimbursed after spending £3,000 on testing kits for their players.

Jose Mourinho, the Spurs manager, has described the club's schedule as a "total joke" and "inhuman". He had been planning to start Dele Alli and Harry Kane tonight, the latter against the club where he made his professional debut and whose shirts he now sponsors.