Manchester City won't have to forfeit their Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United, even if they can't play the fixture next week.
On Monday afternoon it was confirmed that City's Premier League game against Everton, due to be played later that evening, was cancelled due to Covid-19.
The club confirmed further positive tests to go along with those reported on Christmas Day, which had included Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus.
With the club's training ground also closed indefinitely there's no guarantee when City will return to action and there's a chance they won't be able to play against rivals United in the cup on January 6th.
Earlier this season Leyton Orient had to forfeit their game against Spurs in the same competition, with Jose Mourinho's side going through without playing and since getting to the semi-finals themselves.
Gary Neville was left asking on Twitter if Pep Guardiola's side would befall the same fate.
Sounds like Chelsea on the 3rd and and the League cup semi v United all gone ! https://t.co/kcy8BdVtJb
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) December 28, 2020
Not sure they will but I think @leytonorientfc will be watching closely . https://t.co/xlUrRCqsnJ
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) December 28, 2020
However it seems that won't be the case and the two Manchester clubs will just have their last four meeting postponed to a later date.
The rules in the competition changed from the fourth round onwards, meaning that games in the competition are no longer forfeited, as long at it can be rearranged at the 'earliest reasonable opportunity.'
The rules also specifically reference the semi-finals stating “reasonable endeavours” will be taken to rearrange the fixture “at the earliest reasonable opportunity”. Only if that’s not possible would an abandonment be considered at which (unlikely) point #MUFC would go through. pic.twitter.com/6eXeXWFETd
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 28, 2020
The second, third and fourth rounds were all played in back-to-back-to-back weeks and it meant that postponing any match would have been near impossible.
Fixture list congestion, due to the season starting late and having to finish on time for the Euros, meant it was always going to be difficult to reschedule cup games.
The difference with the semi-final is the fact there's no games in Europe until February 16th and the Carabao Cup final has been delayed until April 25th, having previously been arranged for the final week in February as it usually is.
City's next issue is whether they'll be okay to face Chelsea in the league on Sunday, United are next and then they host Championship side Birmingham City in the FA Cup.
source https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-why-manchester-city-wont-have-to-forfeit-carabao-cup-semi-final-20201228
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