Tottenham Hotspur may appeal UEFA's decision to eliminate them from the Europa Conference League and are confident of getting the verdict overturned, manager Antonio Conte said on Tuesday.
BREAKING: #THFC are out of the Europa Conference League after UEFA awarded Rennes a 3-0 victory for the group stage match Spurs were unable to play earlier this month due to a Covid-19 outbreak.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 20, 2021
Spurs were knocked out of the competition on Monday after European soccer's governing body ruled that they must forfeit their final group game against Rennes, which was canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the London club.
Tottenham become the first English club to be knocked out of each of the European Cup, Champions League, Cup Winners' Cup, Uefa Cup, Europa League, Intertoto Cup and Europa Conference League.
— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) December 20, 2021
"It's completely unfair."
Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez says it is not fair that UEFA ruled the club forfeited their final Europa Conference League match against Rennes. #UECL pic.twitter.com/c1R7ZabTTy— Talking THFC (@TalkingTHFC) December 21, 2021
"Honestly for me, the club and our fans, it's incredible the decision UEFA wanted to take. It's unfair for sure. We deserve to play for qualification on the pitch... I'm very disappointed with UEFA's decisions," Conte told reporters ahead of Wednesday's League Cup quarterfinal against West Ham United.
"Also, in explanation about this defeat, I have read that Tottenham couldn't play the game for COVID cases. I dispute this. It's not definitive, but there is another step to confirm or not this incredible decision. We are very confident."
Spurs, who drew 2-2 with Liverpool at the weekend, have had two Premier League games postponed due to COVID-19 this month but Conte added that all players, barring Ryan Sessegnon, were available against West Ham after having recovered from the virus.
"The good news is we have all the players available. A little bad news that Ryan Sessegnon had a (muscle) problem at the end of the game against Liverpool," said the Italian, adding that the left back could be out for up to two weeks.
