UEFA has confirmed Tottenham's game against Rennes will not go ahead due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
It was revealed on Wednesday that eight players at Tottenham and five members of Antonio Conte's staff had returned positive tests.
Their Europa Conference League match was due to take place on Thursday at 8pm GMT and it is as yet unclear when the fixture will be played.
A UEFA statement read: “We can confirm that the match Tottenham-Rennes will not take place tonight.
“Further info will follow in due course.”
Rennes, in their own statement on Wednesday, called the postponement a “unilateral decision" and referred to a “lack of fair play”.
Tottenham's statement on Wednesday read: “We can confirm that our UEFA Europa Conference League Group G home fixture against Stade Rennais will not take place tomorrow (Thursday 9 December at 8pm UK) after a number of positive COVID-19 cases at the club. Discussions are ongoing with UEFA and we shall provide a further update on this fixture in due course.
“Additionally, following discussions with the Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England) and DCMS advisers, the club has been advised to close the first team area of its training centre at this time, in the interests of the health and safety of players and staff.
“All other areas of the training centre remain operational.”
Rennes' statement later read: “Following the press release published by Tottenham at 9 p.m. this Wednesday, Stade Rennais FC would like to clarify the following facts. In a video conference at 7.45 p.m. between representatives of UEFA, Tottenham and SRFC, the Spurs director of football announced her intention not to play the UEFA Europa Conference League game on Thursday evening. It was a unilateral decision which has not been confirmed by UEFA in any way.
“The Tottenham representative did not want to announce the number of her players affected by the Covid when the rule states that a match must be played as long as the team has 13 outfielders and a keeper.
“She 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."
However, UEFA has now confirmed the game is off.
The Athletic learned on Wednesday that Spurs will ask the Premier League to postpone their Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion, due to take place on Sunday. No decision has been made on that game.
Earlier on Wednesday, Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte admitted the club’s COVID-19 situation is “serious” and suggested everyone is “a bit scared” by the ongoing outbreak.
(Photo: Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
Tottenham vs Rennes: UEFA confirm match will not take place due to COVID-19 outbreak - The Athletic
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