Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur have announced they will not play Rennes in the Europa Conference League tomorrow and their training ground has been shut down amid a massive COVID outbreak.
There must’ve been more positive test results this evening, because the UEFA protocol is that a game will go ahead as long as the team has at least 13 players, including one goalkeeper.
Conte said in today’s press conference that there were eight players and five members of staff who had tested positive for COVID-19.
“Now, for sure, we are a bit scared,” said the coach. “Every day, we are having more positives.”
It seems as if that situation escalated, because just hours later, Tottenham released a statement confirming their Europa Conference League game scheduled for Thursday would not be going ahead.
“We can confirm that our UEFA Europa Conference League Group G home fixture against Stade Rennais will not take place tomorrow (Thursday 9 December at 8pm UK) 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.
“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.”
Conte did not say how many of those who tested positive for COVID-19 are fully vaccinated.
There is also a COVID outbreak at Leicester City, who are missing seven players and three members of staff for their Europa League game against Napoli.
According to Tuttosport, the players left behind are Lookman, Amartey, Iheanacho, Vestergaard, Perez, Benkovic and Daley-Campbell.
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.
Full statement ⤵️
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 8, 2021
When will the ass holes of this world, and there are more than a few of them, not just Arsenal supporters, realise that this is not about a football match, not about completing a competition.
IT IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND KEEPING US ALL SAFE IS AND MUST BE A PRIORITY.