Bournemouth's FA Cup clash with Crawley this weekend likely to be CALLED OFF

Bournemouth’s FA Cup clash with Crawley this weekend likely to be called off ‘after ELEVEN Covid cases at the League Two club’ who dumped out Leeds in the last round

  • Saturday’s Bournemouth vs Crawley FA Cup tie is likely to be postponed
  • It follows an outbreak of 11 positive cases at the League Two club 
  • Crawley called off Tuesday night’s League Two fixture against Stevenage
  • They celebrated wildly in dressing room after knocking Leeds out in round three
  • Fourth-round tie at the Vitality Stadium is expected to be played next Tuesday 

Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie between Bournemouth and Crawley Town is expected to be postponed until Tuesday after a Covid-19 outbreak at the League Two club.

The game was set to be played at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon but 11 positive Covid cases at Crawley have forced the likely postponement.

The Football Association is set to confirm when the rearranged game will go ahead on Wednesday afternoon.

Crawley Town's FA Cup trip to Bournemouth this Saturday is expected to be postponed following a Covid-19 outbreak at the League Two club

Crawley Town’s FA Cup trip to Bournemouth this Saturday is expected to be postponed following a Covid-19 outbreak at the League Two club 

Crawley players enjoyed their victory over Premier League opposition, Leeds, winning 3-0

Crawley players enjoyed their victory over Premier League opposition, Leeds, winning 3-0

Crawley made national headlines when they dumped Leeds United out in the third round earlier this month, sparking wild celebrations among players and staff in their dressing room.

But a number of positives test within their camp forced the postponement of Tuesday night’s home league fixture with Stevenage to be called off. The EFL will investigate the circumstances around that game.

Initial tests after those celebrations are believed to have come back negative but subsequent testing at the beginning of this week revealed a different picture. 

Crawley have closed their training ground as a result of the outbreak. 

TV star Mark Wright, who recently signed for Crawley, is one of those forced to self-isolate and spent his 34th birthday in quarantine.  

Manager John Yems remained adamant that he wanted to play the Bournemouth tie regardless as he had 18 fit players available, even if it meant a weakened line-up.

He said on Tuesday: ‘Our FA Cup final was Leeds, you’ll never take that away from us – and if we have to go to Bournemouth with a weakened side, we’ll do it.

Crawley manager John Yems wanted the Cup tie at Bournemouth to go ahead on Saturday

Crawley manager John Yems wanted the Cup tie at Bournemouth to go ahead on Saturday

Bournemouth were in Championship action at Derby County on Tuesday night, losing 1-0

Bournemouth were in Championship action at Derby County on Tuesday night, losing 1-0

‘We might have to throw in a few 16 and 17 year-olds but I don’t care. We’re not going to hide. David-v-Goliath and all that, it’s the spirit of the Cup.

‘All I keep hearing about is what footballers are not doing and can’t do. Let’s have a little look at this for a moment.

‘We’re not trying to do anything wrong. We’re not taking any player who has tested positive. We’re just trying to get the game played.

‘If our brilliant nurses and NHS staff can keep going to work throughout this crisis then I am sure a team of hairy-a**ed footballers and kids can play a game in the world’s greatest cup competition.’

EFL clubs are now testing players and staff twice a week and the latest set of results revealed 32 new Covid cases.

Over 50 EFL fixtures have so far been postponed as a result of coronavirus outbreaks at various clubs.

source: dailymail.co.uk