Chelsea face having FA Cup tie with Morecambe POSTPONED
Chelsea are facing further fixture chaos with their FA Cup third-round tie against Morecombe next month in doubt after the League Two club’s training ground was shut for 10 days.
Morecambe were this week forced to postpone their next two league games just 11 days before the glamour tie at Stamford Bridge due to an outbreak of covid.
They had been due to play Bolton Wanderers away on December 29, while the upcoming game away at Bradford on January 2 has also been postponed.
Chelsea are facing further fixture chaos with their FA Cup third-round tie in doubt
Frank Lampard’s side FA Cup tie against Morecambe on January 11 could be called off
Though no decision has yet been made on the tie with Frank Lampard’s side, the period of self-isolation for the affected players and staff began on December 28, leaving the January 11 game looking unlikely.
A club statement on Monday read: ‘The decision follows detailed conversations today with both Club and EFL medical staff.
‘The club informed the EFL that they would be unable to fulfil the fixtures following recent positive Covid-19 tests and the requirement for players and staff to self-isolate for 10 days as per EFL and Government guidance in order to mitigate against the risk of further infection.
Football Secretary and Director Mick Horton added: ‘It is very disappointing that we have had to make this decision but the welfare of our players, staff and opponents remains the number one priority and following detailed conversations with the relevant authorities we have also decided to close our training ground for 10 days as well.
‘On behalf of the club I wish all those affected a swift and speedy recovery.’
The League Two club have had to postpone two fixtures this week and close training ground
Chelsea’s game against Manchester City on Sunday is already at risk after Pep Guardiola’s side were forced to postpone their trip to Everton on Monday due to their own covid outbreak.
The Premier League is braced for City to reveal the full extent of their Covid-19 outbreak amid fears of fixture chaos in England’s top flight.
There are calls for the season to be paused for two weeks in a ‘circuit breaker’ shutdown following a spike in positive cases among players and staff at a number of Premier League clubs, after Tottenham’s trip to Fulham on Wednesday night became the second top-flight game to be called off this week.
It comes after at least five City players tested positive for the virus, forcing the postponement of their trip to Everton on Monday and leaving Sunday’s game with Chelsea in jeopardy.
