Spurs game off

[Paul Waine]

Yes, another game postponed for Spurs, tonight's European game is off. Large number of senior players positive covid-19 results.

Possibly also postponing their Premier League game at the w/end.

[Paul Waine]

Tottenham Hotspur Europa Conference match postponed as Antonio Conte admits ‘we’re scared’ amid Covid-19 outbreak

Jon West, Wednesday December 08 2021, 10.00pm, The Times

Tottenham Hotspur’s match in the Europa Conference League tomorrow night has been postponed and the club have closed part of their training ground in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that has swept through the squad.

Antonio Conte, the head coach, had explained during his press conference that eight players and five members of the coaching staff had tested positive before their home game against Rennes. One further coach and player have tested positive since a training session yesterday morning.

Conte had admitted that he and his players were feeling scared. Uefa rules stipulate that the game must be played if 13 players, including a goalkeeper, are fit. Conte, though, insisted that he had only 11 available for the group G game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The club issued a statement last night saying that the game had been postponed. No date for the rearranged fixture was given but Uefa has a December 31 deadline for completing group matches.

Tottenham’s statement read: “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.

“Discussions are ongoing with Uefa and we shall provide a further update on this fixture in due course.”

The club also confirmed the closure of the first-team area of its Hotspur Way training centre in Enfield, north London.

The statement continued: “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.”

The postponement of the Rennes match makes the cancellation of Tottenham’s Premier League match away to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday more likely. Spurs are almost certain to ask for that match to be postponed too. That decision will be made by the Premier League board.

It is understood that the players affected are senior professionals, the majority of whom would have played in at least one of the two games.

An emotional Conte had earlier made it clear that he felt neither game should go ahead. “Every day we are having contact with people who are false negative and they become positive and then everyone is a bit scared because we have families,” the Italian said. “Why do I have to take the risk? Why? This is my question.

“At the end of the training session today we had one [more] player positive, and another member of our staff. And tomorrow, who? Me? Better me than a player for sure but it is not right for everyone because we have contact with our families when we go back home.

“To speak about football today is impossible. The last situation made me very upset because the situation is serious. There is a big infection and for sure we are a bit scared because tomorrow we don’t know what will happen.”

The tie against Rennes was a crucial one for Tottenham’s hopes of success in Europe this season. When the game is played, they will have to match the result of Vitesse Arnhem, who face the Slovenian side NS Mura, to progress from the group stage. At present, Conte has nine players missing from a 25-man A-list, which features three goalkeepers and two under-23 players.

“Now we have 11 players available and today we prepared for the game with one player that would play. When we finished the training session this player was positive,” he said. “It is very difficult to speak about football. The situation is so strange and incredible. It makes me upset because I am here to talk about football, about my players and the atmosphere that I want to see tomorrow. Instead we are talking about the people that have Covid.”

The former Chelsea manager was less forthcoming on whether the affected players had been vaccinated. “I can’t answer this question,” he said. “I think everyone takes the best decision. It is a question for the medical department whether they are vaccinated or not.”

Tottenham already have a postponed league game to rearrange after their game away to Burnley on November 28 was called off because of heavy snow.

[Devils_Advocate]

Cowardly decision by the referee

[GodIsADeeJay81]

How are they getting that called off?
Their squad for this Europa conference consists of 35 players according to the official website.

https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaconferen ... ham/squad/

[Peter Loo]

What a crying shame my heart bleeds for them all those extra fixtures to fit in and potential for loss of points

. . Heart still bleeding

[Quickenthetempo]

Conte playing a blinder, getting all the games called off until he can coach them to a half decent standard.

[minnieclaret]

How are they getting that called off?
Their squad for this Europa conference consists of 35 players according to the official website.

https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaconferen ... ham/squad/

Because all the squad will have been in proximity of affected players and staff. I doubt France would have wanted them flying in.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Because all the squad will have been in proximity of affected players and staff. I doubt France would have wanted them flying in.

Spurs are at home aren't they?

[claptrappers_union]

Cowardly decision by the referee

If they just waited until the players got better, they could've played the game

[CharlieinNewMexico]

If they just waited until the players got better, they could've played the game

But what about the Rennes fans having to wait around for the negative tests? Hotels, etc. Out of pocket. Madness.

[Stan Tastic]

The former Chelsea manager was less forthcoming on whether the affected players had been vaccinated. “I can’t answer this question,” he said. “I think everyone takes the best decision. It is a question for the medical department whether they are vaccinated or not.”

He really should know whether his own players are vaccinated or not.

[conyoviejo]

Who really gives a flying phook whether Spurs games are on or off.

Phook the Spuds and their club,I'm sure they won't worry about our games being on or off.

[FCBurnley]

Sets a precedent for clubs with a long list of injuries

[claptrappers_union]

Other players and staff cant get infect others with injuries though.

[Vegas Claret]

there game at the weekend called off now too v Brighton

[Local cricketer]

Who really gives a flying phook whether Spurs games are on or off.

Phook the Spuds and their club,I'm sure they won't worry about our games being on or off.

You obviously to comment

[conyoviejo]

You obviously to comment

Of course I care what is happening to Spurs.

[RalphCoatesComb]

They are probably just the first of this Winter's toll.

Perhaps their team bubbles need to be stronger

[tiger76]

Going to be a mighty fixture pile-up for Spurs at this rate, even more so if they should progress in Europe, and where they are going to fit in the Rennes match before the end of December heaven knows, it's a packed PL schedule for December, plus they have an EFL tie with West Ham on the 22nd, I suppose that might get moved to a later date.

[warksclaret]

I suspect a number of professional footballers have elected not to get vaccinated. With fans soon to have to provide a COVID pass to enable entry, then to me allowing footballers to not get vaccinated is on a par with the Tories having thrown a series of parties last Christmas. One rule for the fans and exemption for the players

[grapidianclaret]

Something wrong with Rennes under soil heating?

[chipbutty]

Who really gives a flying phook whether Spurs games are on or off.

Phook the Spuds and their club,I'm sure they won't worry about our games being on or off.

I`m sure they were concerned if our game was going to be off on the 28th november....

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Game cannot be rescheduled so it's being referred to some sort of disciplinary panel to determine the result.

[dougcollins]

If they apply the normal criteria that's a 3-0 win for Rennes?

[Ric_C]

Couldn't they have covered their faces with masks beforehand, knowing there was a forecast of a new variant?

tinpot