Tottenham drawn against Rapid Vienna in Europa Conference League draw as they await clarification from Uefa
TOTTENHAM have drawn Rapid Vienna in the Europa Conference League but still await clarification from Uefa.
Spurs’ final European group tie with Rennes was cancelled due to the Londoners’ coronavirus outbreak.
They still face being awarded a 3-0 defeat for failing to fulfil the fixture, which would dump them out of the competition.
But SunSport understands Uefa’s Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body could decide to change the rules to allow the match to be played after the December 31 deadline.
With the potential of Tottenham still being able to play their final match, which they need to win, the club were included in the subsequent knockout draw.
Spurs drew Austrian’s Vienna, with the two-legged ties due to be played on February 17, with the return fixture a week later.
The winners then go through to the last-16 to play the Conference League group stage winners.
Uefa’s statement appeared to condemn Antonio Conte’s team to a KO when it confirmed: “A solution that could work for both clubs could not be found.
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“The match can no longer be played and the matter will, be referred to the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body for a decision.”
During the pandemic, the CEDB has awarded 3-0 victories to clubs whose opponents were unable to fulfil fixtures because of Covid infections — and the Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld that.
But if the CEDB rule that Rennes had not been flexible enough in trying to arrange another date for the game, then they could be punished instead.
The CEDB could also grant an exception to the December 31 deadline to allow the Group G match to be played in the new year — before the competition resumes in February.
An added complication is that France has a winter break that lasts from December 22 to January 7.