The French club released a statement after UEFA confirmed the game would be postponed
French side Rennes have hit out at Tottenham Hotspur following UEFA’s decision to postpone their Europa Conference League clash due to a covid-19 outbreak at the Premier League club.
Tottenham are experiencing a Covid crisis at present, with Antonio Conte announcing that eight players and five staff members had tested positive for coronavirus, leaving them with just 10 outfield players to select from.
As a result, the club announced in a statement on Wednesday night that they would be unable to fulfil their fixture which was due to take place tonight (Thursday) and that the game would no longer take place.
The statement read: “We can confirm that our UEFA Europa Conference League Group G home fixture against Stade Rennais will not take place tomorrow (Thursday December 9 at 8pm UK) after a number of positive Covid-19 cases at the club.”
We can confirm that our UEFA Europa Conference League Group G home fixture against Stade Rennais will not take place tomorrow after a number of positive COVID-19 cases at the Club.
Full statement ⤵️
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 8, 2021
However the Ligue 1 outfit released a statement of their own in which they criticised and accused Tottenham of making a ‘unilateral decision’, claiming that Tottenham refused to reveal the number of players affected by covid-19.
With UEFA rules stating that unless a club has ‘less than 13 players registered on the A-list or no registered goalkeeper are available’ then they are unable to postpone the game.
[COMMUNIQUÉ OFFICIEL]
Suite au communiqué publié par Tottenham à 21h ce mercredi, le Stade Rennais F.C. tient à préciser plusieurs faits.⤵
— Stade Rennais F.C. (@staderennais) December 8, 2021
In their statement, they said: “Following the press release published by Tottenham at 9pm, this Wednesday, Stade Rennais FC would like to clarify the following facts,” the Ligue 1 club said.
“In a video conference at 7.45pm between representatives of UEFA, Tottenham and SRFC, the Spurs director of football (Fabio Paratici) announced their intention not to play the UEFA Europa Conference League game on Thursday evening.
“(This is a) unilateral decision which has not been confirmed by UEFA in any way.
“The Tottenham representative did not want to announce the number of players affected by Covid when the rule states that a match must be played as long as the team has 13 outfielders and a keeper.
“He argued for a decision by the English authorities without advancing any official document.
“As the match was not officially cancelled by UEFA, Stade Rennais FC upheld their decision to play.
“Faced with this ‘London fog’, the SRFC reserves the right to approach UEFA. This lack of fair play is all the more glaring as Tottenham had confirmed by email that the match would be held at the start of the afternoon before warning Rennes of their intention not to play just after their landing in London City.”
Tottenham’s Premier League game against Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend is also in doubt after they requested to postpone the fixture.
Related links:
- Tottenham confirm game against Rennes postponed due to covid outbreak
- Tottenham to ask Premier League to postpone Brighton clash after more COVID-19 cases
- Barcelona knocked out of Champions league at group stage for first time since 2000
