Tottenham Hotspur have been awarded a bye into the fourth round of the League Cup after their tie with Leyton Orient was called off following a spate of coronavirus cases at the League Two club.
Fourth-tier Orient tried to rearrange the game but League Cup rules mean that they must forfeit the tie, allowing Spurs to go through to play Chelsea.
Competition organisers the EFL said in a statement: "The Round Three tie scheduled for Tuesday 22 September between Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur could not take place following the issue by Waltham Forest Borough Council of an order preventing the match being played as planned. This followed a number of Leyton Orient players testing positive for Covid-19.
"The EFL Board has determined that in line with Carabao Cup Rule 5.1, the club was unable to fulfil its obligations to complete the fixture by virtue of the Council's order and shall therefore forfeit the tie."
Orient's League Two game with Walsall this weekend has also been postponed as their squad self-isolate.
Spurs will now prepare for four games in eight days, starting with the visit of Newcastle on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho's team then travel to Chelsea on Tuesday, host Maccabi Haifa in Europa League qualifying on Thursday and travel to Manchester United a week on Sunday.
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Spurs avoid scare in Europa League qualifying
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Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho inspects the goalpost ahead of the Uefa Europa League third round qualifying match against Shkendija at the Tose Proeski Arena in Skopje, Macedonia, on Thursday. Getty -
Tottenham Jose Mourinho and his team found the goalposts to be lower than normal ahead of their match against Shkendija in Macedonia. Uefa rectified the mistake. Getty -
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho shakes hands with Harry Kane after the match. Reuters -
Tottenham Hotspur's manager Jose Mourinho during the Uefa Europa League third round qualifying match against Shkendija in Skopje. EPA -
Lucas Moura of Tottenham , top, during the Europa League third round qualifying match against Shkendija. EPA -
Jose Mourinho during the Europa League third round qualifying match against Shkendija. EPA -
Son Heung-min of Tottenham celebrates with his team mates after scoring against Shkendija. EPA -
Harry Kane of Tottenham scores in Skopje, Macedonia. EPA -
Son Heung-min of Tottenham on Thursday. EPA -
Jose Mourinho greets Joe Hart and Son Heung-min. EPA -
Toby Alderweireld, centre, of Tottenham against Ennur Totre, right, and Valjmir Nafiu, left, at the Tose Proeski Arena. Getty -
Lucas Moura of Tottenham in action during the Europa League third round. EPA -
Harry Kane of Tottenham celebrates after scoring. EPA -
Son Heung-Min, right, and Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur fight for the ball with Valjmir Nafliu of Shkendija. AFP -
Jose Mourinho reacts as Tottenham's Ben Davies makes his play. Reuters -
Son Heung-min of Tottenham scores in Skopje. EPA -
Shkendija celebrate their equaliser. EPA
