Southampton vs Shrewsbury FA Cup tie OFF after Covid-19 outbreak left League One club with too few players

Game off: Shrewsbury were due to face Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday evening
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George Flood7 January 2021

The FA Cup tie between Southampton and Shrewsbury Town has been called off due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the League One club.

Steve Cotterill’s third-tier side were set to attempt to engineer a considerable upset against high-flying Premier League opposition in a third-round clash at St Mary’s on Saturday night.

However, that fixture was plunged into doubt on Wednesday after Shrewsbury confirmed that “several” players and staff members had returned positive tests for coronavirus.

A final decision to call off the match was taken on Thursday, with Shrewsbury having informed the Football Association (FA) that they “did not have a sufficient amount of fit, non-isolating players who would be able to play".

The FA said their Professional Game Board will convene early next week to determine what will happen with the fixture.

“The Emirates FA Cup third round tie between Southampton and Shrewsbury Town will not be taking place on the evening of Saturday 9 January 2021 as originally scheduled,” the FA’s statement read.

"Shrewsbury Town informed us that there have been a significant number of positive COVID-19 cases at the club, such that they did not have a sufficient amount of fit, non-isolating players who would be able to play in the fixture.

"The club provided us with details of the medical advice it had received and its communications with local Public Health England and liaised with our COVID medical officer for the Emirates FA Cup. We also requested and considered further information regarding Shrewsbury Town's ability to fulfil the fixture.

“There will be a meeting of our Professional Game Board early next week to make a decision as to what will happen with the fixture. We hope that all those testing positive for COVID-19 have a full and swift recovery. This means there will be 31 third round ties taking place across the weekend, which are all being shown live in the UK.”

It remains to be seen if any other FA Cup third-round ties will be called off due to Covid, though the manager of Marine - only the second eighth-tier club ever to advance this far in the competition - Paul Young has expressed “massive concern” at the potential for coronavirus to ruin a dream home tie for the Merseyside minnows against Tottenham.

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