What happens if Spurs are given a home fixture in tomorrow’s Carabao Cup draw

Tottenham Hotspur enter the Carabao Cup (League Cup to most of us) third round stage when the draw is made tomorrow night, but what will happen if we are drawn at home?

Having already confirmed that the opening of our new stadium has been delayed, Spurs confirmed that they will not be able to use Wembley for the third round of the Carabao Cup which is due to take place on the week of September 24.

The EFL can give permission for Tottenham to reverse the tie or play at a neutral venue if they are drawn at home and a request is made.

The Tottenham Hotspur Trust created an electronic survey asking fans whether their preference would be to play at a neutral venue or flip the tie, whether they have attended a League Cup match in the last three years, how likely it is that they would attend a game at a neutral venue, what factors would influence their decision and which geographical limitations they would put on choosing a neutral ground.

A recent statement on the EFL website read: “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.

The compensation precedent was set in August 2016 when, prior to the draw, Liverpool were given permission to play their EFL Cup Round Two tie under the same terms due to redevelopment work taking place on the club’s Main Stand. On that occasion the draw determined it was not necessary.

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.”