Tottenham’s match with Brighton called off by the Premier League due to mass Covid-19 outbreak in the Spurs squad
- Spurs’ request to postpone their game against Brighton has been approved
- UEFA have also agreed to call off Tottenham’s European clash with Rennes
- Spurs have been ravaged by a Covid outbreak within the team and can not train
Tottenham have had their request to postpone Sunday’s game versus Brighton approved by the Premier League.
Spurs’ squad has been hit by a Covid outbreak causing tonight’s schedule European Conference League game against Rennes to be postponed.
Now their Premier League game against Brighton at the Amex on Sunday has also now been called off, the move approved by the Premier League board on Thursday evening.
Tottenham have had their request to postpone Sunday’s game versus Brighton approved
A statement from Tottenham said: ‘We can confirm that our Premier League fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion, on Sunday 12 December at 2pm, has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting this afternoon (Thursday).
‘The Premier League Board took the decision to postpone the game following guidance from medical advisers, with the health of players and staff the priority. The fixture will be rescheduled in due course.
‘The Club requested the match to be rearranged following a significant number of positive COVID-19 cases among players and relevant staff.
Next Thursday’s Premier League match at Leicester also appears to be in doubt not only because of Spurs’ situation, but because the Foxes are gripped by Covid-19 as well.
As of Wednesday lunchtime Spurs had not contained the outbreak as players who had tested negative the day before were then testing positive having mixed with the squad.
Spurs’ squad has been hit by a Covid outbreak causing tonight’s schedule European Conference League game against Rennes to be postponed
Rennes accused Tottenham of making an ‘unilateral decision’ over the fate of the game
Boss Antonio Conte was visibly emotional in his press conference to preview the Rennes game on Wednesday, saying the situation was serious and that he was scared.
‘The problem is that every day we are having people with Covid,’ Conte said.
‘People that yesterday weren’t positive, today were positive and we continue to have contact with people we think are negative but the day after become positive. I think this is a serious problem.
‘The situation is serious and it is contagious and there is a big infection and now for sure we are a bit scared because tomorrow we don’t know what happens.’
The postponement of further games is going to cause significant scheduling problems for Tottenham, having already had a Premier League game with Burnley called off because of snow.
Discussions regarding the rescheduling of the game with Rennes are ongoing with UEFA, with rules stating there is a December 31 deadline for group games to be completed, but it is understood there could be some room for manoeuvre on that as Spurs have a packed domestic schedule before then, while Rennes go on a winter break on December 22.
Antonio Conte and his team will now wait to hear when the rearranged game will be scheduled
However, the French club have not taken the postponement of Thursday’s game well.
They accused Spurs of causing ‘London fog’ by refusing to tell them how many cases they had and informing them in the afternoon that the game would be played, only to call it off an hour after they had arrived in the capital.
The Ligue 1 club, who returned to France on Thursday morning, later said they ‘hope the interests of the club will be respected’ regarding a possible rearrangement.
Their domestic season is due to be halted for a winter break on December 22 and they hinted they have no intention of playing after then.
A statement read: ‘Stade Rennais FC hope that the interests of the club will be respected given the important sporting deadlines that await the Rouge et Noir this December.’