Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham match called off three hours before kick-off due to coronavirus

Cottagers asked for Premier League game to be rearranged because of a significant rise in Covid-19 cases

Spurs' Premier League match against Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been postponed due to a coronavirus outbreak at the West London club. PA

The Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham has been called off just three hours before kick-off due to a rise on Covid-19 cases at the West London club.

Fulham returned a number of positive test results on Tuesday and after more came in on Wednesday, the Premier League decided to postpone the game that was scheduled to start at 6pm.

Cottagers manager Scott Parker did not take charge of his team's goalless draw with Southampton on December 26 after someone in his household tested positive for Covid-19. He was due to return to the dugout at Tottenham.

It becomes the third top-flight game to be wiped out by the virus, following Newcastle's match with Aston Villa earlier this month and Monday's game between Everton and Manchester City.

The Premier League said in a statement: "Fulham FC's match at Tottenham Hotspur ... has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting this afternoon.

"Fulham lodged a request with the Premier League Board to rearrange the fixture following a significant rise in positive Covid-19 cases, as well as a number of players showing symptoms today.

"The Premier League Board has consulted its medical advisors and the decision to postpone the game has been taken as a precaution and with the health of players and staff as the priority. The group will now be retested immediately."

Despite the rising number of cases across the Premier League, the governing body says they intend to continue playing.

"With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the Premier League continues to have full confidence in its Covid-19 protocols and being able to continue to play our fixtures as scheduled," the statement added.

"The League wishes those with Covid-19 a safe and speedy recovery and will rearrange the postponed fixture between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham in due course."

Four hours before the game was scheduled to kick off, a clearly frustrated Spurs manager Jose Mourinho said he was still in the dark regarding the status of the match.

The Portuguese posted a video on Instagram from the lounge where his staff were still waiting for news on the fixture with a message saying: "Match at 6pm... We still don't know if we play. Best league in the world".

West Bromwich Albion manager Sam Allardyce has called for the league to be paused due to the rise in Covid-19 infections in the country as a new more contagious variant spreads.

"When I listen to the news the variant virus transmits quicker than the original virus, we can only do the right thing which is have a circuit break," he said.

"I am 66 years old and the last thing I want to do it catch Covid. I'm very concerned for myself and football in general. If that's what needs to be done we need to do it."

Meanwhile, Manchester City have confirmed there have so far been no new positive cases of Covid-19 following a round of testing at the club on Tuesday.

A statement from the club read: "Manchester City FC can confirm that first team training will resume at City Football Academy this afternoon.

"The full Covid-19 bubble underwent testing yesterday, and results have so far revealed no new positive cases.

"Safety remains our number one priority, and the Club will continue to proceed with great caution.

"The first-team training buildings have undergone a deep clean over the past 48 hours, and the majority of these facilities will remain closed, with only essential operations around training resuming.

"The bubble will undergo further testing in the coming days, the results of which will inform and dictate the next steps."