Rennes have hit out at the decision to call off the Europa Conference League match at Tottenham Hotspur.
The French club’s players had already arrived in the UK before Spurs announced that the match was off due to their Covid issues and that they had closed the first team area of their Hotspur Way training ground.
However, Rennes then released their own statement, claiming that Tottenham’s decision was not confirmed by UEFA.
“Following the press release published by Tottenham at 9 p.m. this Wednesday, Stade Rennais FC would like to clarify the following facts,” read the Ligue 1 side’s statement.
“In a video conference at 7.45 p.m. between representatives of UEFA, Tottenham and SRFC, the Spurs director of football announced her intention not to play the UEFA Europa Conference League game on Thursday evening. A unilateral decision which has not been confirmed by UEFA in any way.
“The Tottenham representative did not want to announce the number of her players affected by the Covid when the rule states that a match must be played as long as the team has 13 outfielders and a keeper.
“She argued for a decision by the English authorities without advancing any official document. As the match was not officially canceled by UEFA, Stade Rennais FC upheld their decision to play.
“Faced with this “London fog”, the SRFC reserves the right to approach UEFA. This lack of fair play is all the more glaring as Tottenham had confirmed by email that the match would be held at the start of the afternoon before warning Rennes of their intention not to play just after their landing in London City.”