90min

Tottenham forfeit postponed Rennes game & crash out of Europa Conference League

By Matt O'Connor-Simpson

Conte may be relieved to not have the distraction of Thursday night football
Conte may be relieved to not have the distraction of Thursday night football / SOPA Images/GettyImages
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UEFA have deemed that Tottenham forfeited their Europa Conference League tie against Rennes, which was initially suspended due to a coronavirus outbreak at the club. As a result, Spurs have been eliminated from the competition.

European football's governing body have awarded Rennes a 3-0 win, a result that ensured they finished top of the group. The Ligue 1 side will now progress into the last 16 while second-place Vitesse will take on Rapid Wien in the first knockout round.

UEFA explained their decision in a statement released on Monday morning.

"Following several positive cases of COVID-19 that were identified from players and staff of Tottenham Hotspur FC, the 2021/22 UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Stade Rennais FC - scheduled to be played on 9 December 2021 in London, United Kingdom – could not be played," they began.

"The matter was submitted to the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body, for a decision to be taken in accordance with Annex J of the Regulations of the UEFA Europa Conference League (2021/22 Season).

"Based on the Article 30 (4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations and given the urgent circumstances of the matter, the ad-hoc chairman of the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body referred the case to the Appeals Body.The Chairman of the UEFA Appeals Body took the following decision:

"To declare the 2021/22 UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Stade Rennais FC, that was initially scheduled to be played on 9 December 2021, as forfeited by Tottenham Hotspur FC, who is therefore deemed to have lost the match 0-3 in accordance with Annex J.3.1 to the Regulations of the UEFA Europa Conference League (2021/22 Season)."

The incident caps off a thoroughly underwhelming European campaign for Spurs which included embarrassing defeats to minnows Mura and Vitesse Arnhem, as well as a draw to Rennes.

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