EFL release statement over Tottenham League Cup draw

The English Football League has released a statement regarding the situation with Tottenham, Wembley, and their new stadium.

Spurs announced last week that their brand new 62,000 seat stadium would not be ready in time, with fixtures in September and October being moved to Wembley stadium, even stadium safety issues were cited as the reason for the delay.

Rumours out of North London now say that the build could be unfinished until as late as February 2019. I would use my completely free bet to predict that Tottenham will not play a match in the new stadium this season.

While fixtures may be moved to Wembley, the national stadium is unfortunately busy during the dates for the League Cup round 3 ties this season.

This effectively means that Tottenham are stadiumless for this fixture, if they are drawn at home.

The EFL have released the following statement: ‘In the event that Tottenham Hotspur are drawn at home in Round Three of the Carabao Cup, the club can apply for special dispensation from the EFL Board to play their fixture away from home as a result of the delays in moving to their new stadium.

‘If the circumstances dictate a reversal is required, then the EFL Board can also determine a level of compensation to be paid by Tottenham Hotspur to the opposing club.’

This precedent was set in 2016, when Liverpool were granted permission to play their round 2 tie under the same conditions, as their main stand was under reconstruction. In that case, the draw determined in unnecessary.

An EFL spokesman said: “If required, the rules of the Carabao Cup provide for the Board of the EFL to consider requests to reverse fixtures or for matches to be played at a neutral venue. Any decision to grant dispensation takes into account all relevant circumstances facing a club at the time the fixture is scheduled to take place.”

The Carabao Cup Round Three draw is set to take place on Thursday 30 August.

Related Topics