Catlin: FA have made it
MARK CATLIN is confident Pompey’s FA Cup clash with Bristol City will go ahead, writes NEIL ALLEN.
The Championship side are scheduled to host Kenny Jackett’s men this Sunday in a third-round encounter.
However, City’s league trip to Brentford on Saturday was cancelled after Robins players showed Covid-19 symptoms.
With a 10-day self-isolation period potentially required, it raises reasonable doubt over whether their game with Pompey will be fulfilled.
Yet Catlin has revealed the FA have been in touch insisting there should be no FA Cup cancellation on coronavirus grounds for any team.
The Blues’ chief executive said: ‘I can’t predict whether the game will go ahead on Sunday, I would like to think so.
‘The FA have made it clear that even if you played with a team of youth-team players, they want the game to go on.
‘We are hopeful that, at this moment in time, it will happen. Although that is a matter for Bristol City rather than Pompey.
‘Look at some of the earlier
rounds when teams wanted to call the game off with coronavirus.
‘In response, those teams were ejected from the competition by the FA.
‘The FA have been clear that – due to the time restraints of the current league position – games have to take place on the day they are designated.
‘Even if you have to field a youth team, that is what you have to do to get the match on.
‘Nothing I have seen has changed that. It seems to be the message coming from the FA.
‘Let’s hope Bristol City and other clubs are okay for this weekend, including ourselves.
‘While I am sat here at this moment saying we appear to be Covid-free, things can change within 48 hours, as we have seen.’
Back in October, Notts County were forced to pull out of the competition at the fourth qualifying round stage after six players tested positive for coronavirus.
Instead, a bye was handed to opponents King’s Lynn Town – who would go on to meet Pompey in the second round.
The Blues haven’t played since December 18 following an outbreak, yet the full squad are now back in training.
Catlin added: ‘My understanding is the whole squad are fit and ready to go – it’s just the concerns of the enforced break and what that will do to us.
‘Obviously we had great momentum, we’ll just have to see now.
‘Hopefully this enforced break doesn’t disrupt the great run of form we were on.’