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Why Manchester City Won't Have To Forfeit Carabao Cup Semi-Final

Why Manchester City Won't Have To Forfeit Carabao Cup Semi-Final

Manchester City have had to postpone their game against Everton on Monday night but could still make it to the Carabao Cup final.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

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 postponed 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.

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 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.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Manchester City, Spurs, Football News, Carabao Cup, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Leyton Orient, Premier League, Everton