European football governing body, UEFA, has confirmed that the Europa Conference League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Rennes have been called off.
The must-win match for Spurs had to be called off after over eight first-team players and five coaching staff of the club tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus.
Earlier, when Tottenham Hotspur announced that UEFA has given the go-ahead for the game to be called off, Rennes issued a conflicting statement stressing that UEFA had not officially postponed the game.
The French Ligue 1 club stressed that they intend to play the game despite the mass coronavirus outbreak at the Premier League club.
But on Thursday morning, December 9, UEFA confirmed that the Europa Conference League match has been called off according to a Sky Sports report.
Tottenham Hotspur coach Antonio Conte said everyone at the club is scared
Before UEFA confirmed that the Tottenham Hotspur Europa Conference League game against Rennes has been called off, coach Antonio Conte of Spurs revealed that everyone at the club is a bit scared over how the virus is spreading.
In a press conference before the game against Rennes was called off, Conte said: “Everyone is a bit scared. People have families,” said Conte. “Why do we have to take the risk? This is my question. Today, two positives. And tomorrow, who? Me? I don’t know.
“This is the problem. Yesterday, they were negative and now they are positive. And we have had contact. This is the problem and makes me upset because, for sure, the situation is not clear and easy for everyone. Not just the players but everyone who works here.”
Unlike Rennes that have already secured their place in the next round of the Europa Conference League, Tottenham Hotspur need to beat the French side to guarantee themselves a place in the next round.
Based on the UEFA schedule for the tournament, all the European group stage games must be completed before the end of December 2021.
However, UEFA guidelines stipulate that a club must have at least 13 players and a registered goalkeeper available before a game can take place.
Tottenham Hotspur’s fate in the Premier League
Now that UEFA has postponed Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa Conference League match against Rennes, the attention of the club’s supporters has been shifted to the Premier League to see whether the league body would call-off Spurs league games.
The Premier League guidelines stipulate that a league match can not be postponed if a club still has 14 or more players on its squad list available.
Tottenham Hotspur’s next Premier League game is against Brighton scheduled to kick off at 15:00, on December 12, 2021. Afterward, they have a league game against Leicester City on December 16, 2021.
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.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 8, 2021
Full statement ⤵️
