EFL official rules on Carabao Cup bye & venue change as Newcastle United vs Wimbledon cancelled
Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup tie away to AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night has been postponed.
The Magpies cancelled Eddie Howe’s pre-match press conference on Monday morning in expectation that the fixture would be cancelled. There is significant flooding around Plough Lane and footage has since shown what looks like a sink hole in the corner of the pitch.
“Newcastle United's Carabao Cup third round tie at AFC Wimbledon has been postponed following extensive overnight flooding at the Cherry Red Records Stadium,” a Newcastle statement read.
“The match, which was scheduled for 7:45pm BST on Tuesday evening, will now be rescheduled. Further details, including information for ticket holders, will be announced in due course.”
The official EFL handbook states that the fixture must be rearranged for the ‘earliest possible opportunity’, however that is complicated by Wimbledon’s League Two match against Crewe Alexandra next Tuesday.
The rule state: “If, a Club is unable to fulfil its obligation to complete a Competition Match for any reason then the Management Committee shall use its reasonable endeavours to rearrange the fixture for the earliest reasonable opportunity (including but not limited to arranging for the Competition Match to be played at a neutral venue) which will not be later than the date of the first Competition Match scheduled to take place in the immediately following round.”
As mentioned above, playing the fixture at a neutral venue could be an option. The rules also state if Wimbledon are unable to fulfil the fixture then Newcastle could receive a bye to the fourth round.
“Where the Management Committee determine that the Competition Match cannot be rearranged the Management Committee shall have the power to declare that the Competition Match shall be abandoned,” the handbook adds.
“Where the Management Committee declare that the Competition Match shall be abandoned, the Club shall forfeit the Competition Match, pay the opposing Club’s expenses in accordance with Rule 5.6 and the opposing Club shall receive a bye into the next round of the Competition.”