Orient tie in doubt after virus outbreak
LEYTON ORIENT have shut their stadium and training ground after a coronavirus outbreak – throwing tonight’s Carabao Cup tie with Tottenham into doubt.
The third-round clash with Jose Mourinho’s men could be forfeited and awarded to Spurs after a “number” of Orient players tested positive.
Public Health England were last night in talks with Orient and the EFL.
And the League Two club could even be shut down for an extended period of time while the stadium and training ground undergoes a deep clean.
Tottenham and Orient players both expect the tie to be off but the decision will rest with PHE after talks with the O’s who forfeit the game if they cannot field 14 players, including three subs.
Orient have also had to contact their recent opponents, Mansfield, Plymouth and Oldham, to warn them amid fears of a serious breakout.
It would be a massive blow to Orient for what would have been a dream tie with Tottenham and a chance to raise funds and publicity for former manager Justin Edinburgh’s Foundation as the ex-Spurs defender died of a cardiac c arrest last year.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane e also sponsored Orient’s s shirts in the summer to o ease their financial crisis as the England captain started d his career at Brisbane Road d in 2011.
Orient issued a statement nt which read: ”Leyton Orient’s ’s priority is the health and d wellbeing of its players and d staff. Those who have e tested positive will now w strictly follow government nt self-isolation guidelines.
“The Breyer Group Stadium and training ground facilities will be closed until further notice.”
The decision to award the tie would be in line with UEFA guidelines and Spurs already have a busy fixture list as they fly to Macedonia tomorrow to face Shkendija in the Europa League.