Like Enyimba, Spurs Kicked out of Europa Conference League

Tottenham Hotspur are out of the Europa Conference League after UEFA ruled yesterday that they forfeited their final match against French Ligue 1 side Rennes.

The scenario leading to the exit of Spurs was similar to the same Covid situation that led Enyimba to miss their trip to Benghazi to play Al-Ittihad in the CAF Confederation Cup and were subsequently walked over on Sunday evening.

The Spurs versus Rennes match on 9 December was called off following a Covid outbreak, with 13 positive cases at the London club.

UEFA then said the match could not be rescheduled and referred the matter to its disciplinary body.

It awarded Rennes a 3-0 win and they top the group, with Vitesse runners-up and Spurs finishing third.

“We are disappointed by the ruling of the UEFA Appeals Body and the refusal to allow more time for the match to be rescheduled,” Spurs said.

“We have to accept this ruling, however, and our focus now turns to the competitions we remain in.”

Following the outbreak, Spurs were forced to close their first-team training centre, with their subsequent Premier League games against Brighton and Leicester also postponed.

The game against Rennes was Spurs’ final game in Group C of the Europa Conference League.

Eight Spurs players and five members of staff tested positive for Covid-19. UEFA rules state that if clubs have 13 fit players on their A list, including a goalkeeper, they must play.