Spurs vs Fulham game called off just hours before kick-off after spike in Covid cases

The match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the second Premier League match to be cancelled in a week after Everton vs Man City

Tottenham will now play Fulham at a later date (Getty)

Tottenham vs Fulham has been postponed after the Cottagers recorded a number of positive Covid-19 tests on Tuesday.

The game, which was set to take place at 18:00 GMT on Wednesday evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, is the second Premier League fixture to be postponed in a week after Manchester City’s game against Everton following “an increase in positive COVID-19 test results” at City.

A statement from Tottenham read: “We can confirm that our Premier League home fixture against Fulham, scheduled to take place this evening (Wednesday 30 December), has been postponed.

“The Premier League informed us of the decision this afternoon, with Fulham having requested the postponement on the grounds of the number of COVID-19 positive cases among their players and staff.

READ MORE: Jose Mourinho mocks Premier League over Tottenham vs Fulham

“Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur sends their best wishes to Fulham for a safe and speedy recovery to all those who are affected. Details of a new date for the fixture will be confirmed in due course.”

While the Premier League confirmed the postponement and reiterated its confidence in the season continuing: “Fulham's match at Tottenham, due to be played at 6pm this evening, 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. 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.”

Scott Parker missed the Cottagers’ Boxing Day draw with Southampton after a positive test in his household, but he has since returned a negative test.

A number of positive results are for Covid-19 are thought to have come from Fulham in the first round of testing across the Premier League, with clubs in tier 4 areas required to test twice a week in an effort to halt growing numbers of infection.

The game was in limbo with less than four hours until kick-off, leading to Jose Mourinho mocking the Premier League for a lack of clarity surrounding the fixture.

READ MORE: Sam Allardyce calls for Premier League to take a break after rise in coronavirus cases

Mourinho has clearly been irked by the delay in confirmation that the game would be postponed, writing on social media: "Match at 6 pm... We still don’t know if we play. Best league in the world."

Mourinho added a video to the caption which eventually zoomed in on the time on a television in a room with his Spurs squad waiting for an update.

The Premier League announced on Tuesday that they recorded 18 positive tests last week - the most since the pandemic began - and Fulham are far from the only club to be affected as City, Arsenal and Sheffield United have all confirmed positive cases this week.

Parker confirmed his negative test in his press conference on Tuesday, which would ensure he could return to the training ground at the start of this week after a period of self-isolation and prepare to face Spurs.