Competition rules mean a forfeit is highly unlikely
Manchester City are not expected to be eliminated from the Carabao Cup, despite the postponement of Monday’s Premier League encounter with Everton.
It was announced on Christmas Day that Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and two City staff members had tested positive for coronavirus. Following additional positive tests, the Premier League has been forced to postpone the game at Goodison Park until a later date.
With City closing their training facilities in response to the developments, their league game against Chelsea on Sunday and the Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United on January 6 also look likely to be rescheduled.
The news of the Everton game’s postponement prompted some to question whether City would be eliminated from the Carabao Cup, as was the case with Leyton Orient earlier in the season.
Not sure they will but I think @leytonorientfc will be watching closely . https://t.co/xlUrRCqsnJ
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) December 28, 2020
Several of Orient’s players returned positive tests ahead of their third round game against Tottenham in September. After an initial postponement, the English Football League (EFL) confirmed they had forfeited the game, granting Spurs a bye to the fourth round.
Although the circumstances appear similar, competition rules state that forfeits only apply in rules one to four:
The same rules also state that ‘reasonable endeavours’ will be made to re-arrange fixtures at the earliest possible opportunity for games postponed in rounds five and/ or the semi-final. Only if this is not possible will City’s elimination be given any form of consideration:
