Tottenham granted special dispensation by EFL to play Carabao Cup third round tie against Watford in Milton Keynes
The decision will anger Watford, who argued the tie should be played at Vicarage Road
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Tottenham have been granted special dispensation by the EFL to play their Carabao Cup third round tie against Watford later this month at Stadium MK.
Delays in the opening of Spurs’ new stadium, coupled with the unavailability of Wembley in the week starting September 24, prompted the club to request that the fixture be moved to the home of MK Dons in Milton Keynes.
Watford opposed the idea, arguing that the tie should be reversed if Tottenham were not able to host it and instead be played at Vicarage Road, as was agreed ahead of the Premier League meeting between the two clubs on Sunday.
But in a statement issued on their official website, the EFL said: “At its meeting on Thursday, the EFL board granted Tottenham Hotspur Football Club dispensation to play their round three Carabao Cup tie against Watford Football Club later this month at Stadium MK.
“The rules of the Carabao Cup provide for the board of the EFL to consider the home club’s request to play at neutral venues or to reverse the fixture. The decision to grant dispensation takes into account all relevant circumstances facing the home club at the time the fixture is scheduled to take place.
“The board fully considered Tottenham’s request alongside strong representations from Watford who formally asked the league to play the tie at Vicarage Road.
“It was determined that as a result of Tottenham being drawn at home, the tie should be played at the venue of the club’s request, on the proviso that the visitors will receive a ticket allocation of not less than 10 per cent and Tottenham fund any venue hire costs.”
The EFL also confirmed that Tottenham could find themselves in a similarly tricky predicament should they beat Watford and advance to the fourth round.
“The dispensation granted has been done so on the basis that any future rounds in this season’s Carabao Cup competition are played at either Wembley Stadium as their current home venue, the new White Hart Lane, or at a neutral venue,” the EFL added.
“The club will not be able to reverse any fixtures in 2018/19, should they progress and be drawn at home in future rounds.”
Tottenham have already moved their Premier League home match against Manchester City to Monday, October 29 – a day later than originally scheduled and into the midweek that the Carabao Cup fourth round fixtures are scheduled to be played.
Apologising to supporters for the delays to the opening of Spurs’ new stadium earlier this week, chairman Daniel Levy said: “Amongst the consequences of the delay [to our new stadium] have been substantial additional costs, not least of which is the need for alternative venue hire."
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