A re-arranged League One match has been called off four hours before kick off, and it’s caused yet more anger from one club’s supporters.
The fixture between Oxford United and Crewe Alexandra was originally set to go ahead on the 3rd of October 2020, however it was called off 30 minutes before the 3pm kick off.
At precisely 2:26pm, Oxford United revealed that their fixture against the Railwaymen was called off due to one of the away side’s players contracting coronavirus.
He was notified of having it early on the Saturday morning, with both clubs preparing for what would have been their fourth league game of the 2020/21 season.
This was then rearranged for ten days later [today], however it’s been postponed for the second time this month following consultation with the English Football League.
Crewe Alexandra did play a League One fixture against Wigan Athletic on Saturday. The Cheshire based outfit winning 3-0 against the Latics to take them 13th in the table.
EFL STATEMENT:
The EFL can confirm that Crewe Alexandra’s Sky Bet League One fixture with Oxford United this evening has been postponed. Following consultation with the Club, they have determined they’re unable to fulfil the fixture.
The decision has been taken after the Club considered the relevant guidance from the Government and EFL. The League will now continue to work with the Club to ensure the fixture with Blackpool and subsequent games go ahead as planned.
CREWE STATEMENT:
Following consultation with the EFL, Crewe Alexandra has decided that our game with Oxford United this evening should be postponed.
The decision has been taken after fully considering the relevant guidance from the Government and EFL.
The Football Club will now continue to work with the EFL to ensure our fixture with Blackpool and subsequent games go ahead as planned.
OXFORD STATEMENT:
Tonight’s game against Crewe Alexandra has been postponed after Crewe notified the EFL that they were unable to fulfil the fixture.
Following consultation with the EFL the decision has been taken after fully considering the relevant guidance from the Government and EFL.
Oxford United will await further instruction on when the game can now take place but will wait for clarification on the circumstances surrounding the postponement before making further comment.
—- STATEMENT ENDS —-
Hear Karl’s thoughts on what happen today as United’s match against Crewe was postponed.
See his full, passionate interview on iFollow shortly #OUFC pic.twitter.com/AziObNOB3p
— Oxford United FC (@OUFCOfficial) October 3, 2020
Karl Robinson and his Crewe counterpart David Artell both called for more coronavirus testing in the EFL after the League One game between the clubs was postponed at short notice.
Crewe player Ryan Wintle had received news on Saturday morning that a test he had taken earlier in the week had come back positive.
His manager Artell said his team had been “happy to play” but accepted a postponement was the sensible decision, while opposite number Karl Robinson hit out at what he described as “fluffy guidelines” from the league and the Professional Footballers’ Association.
Robinson – whose side had to car-pool to Accrington last week after an alcohol-based sanitiser spray triggered sensors on their bus to prevent its departure – said: “Football is secondary to people’s health.
“Last week we had a laugh and a joke over the sanitiser but this is not a laughing and joking matter. I’ve got six players who have got pregnant wives, staff who are vulnerable…
“Something has to change. We are asking and calling for more help to get more testing, but there are fools at the PFA sitting behind their desks and not properly looking after the welfare of their players.
“We had several players who did not feel well last week who got tested themselves and stayed at home and were then not available for our match at Accrington because we, and they, thought that was the right thing to do.
“We love playing football but it has to be safe.
“This is going to happen more and more. I think the season should continue – but the testing should be better to enable the season to carry on.”
Crewe manager Artell echoed that call and said the positive test leading to the postponement was not conducted by the league.
He said: “We were happy to play.
“Oxford didn’t want to play, understandably, because they didn’t know how many may have caught coronavirus on our coach on the way down.
“The EFL said they couldn’t call the game off, we had to call it off. I think it’s been a sensible thing to call it off.
“The boy in question is asymptomatic. He just had a test because he has a young boy that he was worried about.
“We’ve followed all the guidelines, but the disease is highly infectious.
“I think it’s a consequence of not testing more. While there’s a lack of testing across football we’re going to get situations like this. I’m all for more testing.
“It’s unfortunate. We wanted to play but it’s been taken out of our hands – and quite rightly.”
After hearing that the re-arranged League One match has been called off four hours from kick off, fans were once again left angry and demanding for three points to be handed to the U’s…
Yet they managed to play on Saturday…… play youngsters and get the games played, getting stupid now, you have a squad for a reason!!!
— Richard Clare (@RichOUFC) October 13, 2020
Of course they will, the EFL have temporarily misplaced their balls!
— Jason Yates (@JWYOUFC) October 13, 2020
@crewealexfc are a joke, funny how they could play Saturday! @EFL sort it out ffs!
— Jason Yates (@JWYOUFC) October 13, 2020
Another positive test on the way down from Crew?
— OJ (@OllieReesJames) October 13, 2020
3 points? ??♂️
— Elbo (@elboooooogaming) October 13, 2020
They played on Saturday with no problems?
— Trance Dogg (@TranceDogg) October 13, 2020
This is a joke. Crewe are an absolute shambles of a club!
— Ben Warner (@IAmBenWarner) October 13, 2020
3 points United, and expenses for a deep clean of the Kass, nothing less.
— Big Crompy (@BigCrompy) October 13, 2020
At least they did it before turning up! This is getting like the non league where teams can’t raise a side hahaha
— Liam Walker (@quim_ninja1978) October 13, 2020
3 points surely
— Jackson (@jtisoo95) October 13, 2020
This is ridiculous now.
— Johnny Lyle (@johnlyle) October 13, 2020
We should get the points
— Buildbase lol (@haynes_terry) October 13, 2020
Won’t happen as already consulted with the EFL before they postponed the match
— Geoff Hounslow (@gdhounslow) October 13, 2020
I understand there’s a pandemic and they need to follow some rules but how where they allowed to play on Saturday but can’t play tonight? It seems to me @crewealexfc are picking and choosing when they play it wont surprise me if they play the Blackpool match but call our game off
— David (@davidsmithsafc) October 13, 2020
Scenario for you.
standard on how to end a season set last season is PPG.
oufc start season poorly.
Covid cases rocket.
potential risk to not seeing season finished
Is there benefit to Crewe not allowing oxford to play this home game?
Could that be be a lower point total for OUFC— Jasperjar (@Jasperjar1) October 13, 2020
Who is on the “allowed to postpone” list and who is not. Might be worth some of your members knowing.
— Geoff Hinks (@caeberwyn) October 13, 2020
But they were fine to play on Saturday weren’t they? Incompetent beyond belief as always
— Lizard of Oz (@_JRedpath) October 13, 2020
3 points to Oxford then right?
— Liam Read (@L14M1607) October 13, 2020
You must be logged in to post a comment Login