Orient say Spurs cup walkover is wrong

Leyton Orient chairman Nigel Travis has warned that handing Tottenham a Carabao Cup walkover would send the wrong message about the testing process.

Orient’ s third-round clash with Jose Mourinho’ s men was called off last night after a number of players at the Sky B et League Two club tested positive for coronavirus.

Under the rules of the competition Spurs should be awarded a bye to the fourth round, where they would face Chelsea or Barnsley.

However Travis believes axing Orient from the competition–after they accepted Spurs’ offer to pay for testing which is no longer mandatory – would cause other clubs to resist a similar opportunity.

“If I was doing this again I would not do the testing – this is an incentive not to test and that is bad for football and bad for health and safety,” Travis told Radio 5 Live.

“That’ s why we can’ t be punished over this, because people should be in cent iv is ed to take the test, especially when Premier League clubs with their resources give us the opportunity to have all our players tested.

“Flexibility is needed, cool heads are needed to sit around the table and find a solution but the answer is not to incentivise people not to test.”

The League Two club were clearly frustrated by the nature of the postponement, which came after Orient revealed that a number of their players had tested positive on Monday.

A statement from Orient confirmed the game was off and added :“Disc ussions are ongoing between the relevant stakeholders in regards to the implications of the fixture not taking place tonight 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 C ovid -19 secure procedu reswi th the view to reopening the stadium and training ground as soon as possible.”