*Breaking News* Spurs ask to replay West Ham game

[Dmac]

Spurs ask to replay West Ham game

Tottenham have written to the Premier League to ask if they can replay Sunday's game against West Ham.

10 Tottenham players were hit by food poisoning before the 2-1 defeat, which ended Spurs' hopes of playing in next year's Champions League.

"Our match at West Ham was effectively a cup final," said Spurs chairman Daniel Levy in an open letter to Premier League chairman Dave Richards.

"Our chances were significantly reduced by the exceptional circumstances."

Tottenham needed to match Arsenal's result against Wigan to finish above their rivals and secure fourth spot in the league.

That would have enabled them next season to take part in qualifying for the Champions League - a competition they have never been in.

But defeat combined with Arsenal's 4-2 win over Wigan left Spurs in fifth and a place in the Uefa Cup instead.

The Premier League said Spurs could delay the match until later in the day to give their players time to recover from illness, but would not allow the game to be played on another day.

However the police said they would not sanction a kick off time after 1700 BST - only two hours after was game was due to begin.

Levy continued: "In being given no viable option to postpone the match other than a two-hour delay to kick-off, our players were denied the possible opportunity of competing in the Champions League.

"Also, our fans have been left with a sense of suspicion and injustice at the way subsequent events unfolded.

"We played the game with players who were unwell but who were desperate not to let their fans and colleagues down.

"Clearly, our governing body put us in an impossible situation and gave a significant advantage to Arsenal in competing for that fourth position."

A Premier League spokesman said: "Tottenham fulfilled their fixture and as far as the Premier League is concerned the result stands.

"However, the Premier League board will convene and discuss the contents of Tottenham's letter."

Credit - BBC Sports

[Dark Drakan]

I cant imagine, The Premier League board allowing a replay as it will make other clubs think they could ask for rematches for exceptional circumstances aswel. Unless they put both Tottenham and Arsenal into Champions League which is unheard of!

[Dmac]

To be honest I think it is quite fair if that happens and the FA allow it, they were 10 players down with food poisoning on the most important game for them of the season, almost like a cup final, how can any other club come up with a good excuse like that, they can't if totenham had all of their players on the day then maybe they would have clinched the spot instead of losing out. All I am saying is if the FA allow it then fair play I agree with it but if not then that is that argument over.

[Dark Drakan]

I think it should be allowed fair enough but the FA dont like making exceptions for anything.

[Slash]

If they can play it this Friday, they'd really be doing us a favour!

[Straight Edge]

Tottenham should get the oppertunity to play the game again. I mean, 10 of their players did come down with food poisoning the night before the game, and they tried to get the game called off them, but couldn't. It's only fair that they get to play the game again, and go for that 4th place in the Premiership.

[OMEN]

London - The Premier League on Wednesday rejected Tottenham Hotspur's appeal for a replay of Sunday's crucial match at West Ham United.

Ten Spurs players went down with food poisoning from a meal the night before the game, which Tottenham lost 2-1.

That allowed Arsenal to take fourth place in the Premier League and pip their north London rivals to the last Champions League qualifying spot thanks to their 4-2 win over Wigan Athletic.

Before Sunday's kick-off Spurs had requested the game be postponed for a day but were offered only a two-hour delay by league officials.

The Premier League published a copy of a lengthy letter it sent in the name of chief executive Peter Scudamore to Spurs chairperson Daniel Levy on its website on Wednesday.

It said that the league's board was sympathetic to Tottenham's problem but "has to take a dispassionate view, independent of clubs' opinion, in order to protect the overall integrity of the League competition."

The letter went on: "The fact that so much may have been riding on one game is not as a consequence of just last Sunday's results but is the product of 380 games played throughout an entire nine-month season.

Speculation about what may have happened in different circumstances even within our league is inappropriate and, in other competitions, irrelevant.

Due care

"As always, the Board can only deal with the facts on an individual basis and deal with any situation as and when presented. All those directly involved on the day acted in the utmost good faith and with due care in what were unusual circumstances."

The board accepted that six Spurs players had been suffering from sickness and diarrhoea but that of those six only two had been in the starting team in the team's last three league matches and that, including youth players, Spurs had 53 players to choose from for the fixture.

The letter also went over the events of last Sunday and stressed that Tottenham had the option not to fulfil the fixture and take their chances in the subsequent Premier League enquiry.

"In summary, the board having considered the contents of your letter carefully, finds no grounds for acceding to your request for a replay."

It added: "We remain very sympathetic to the unenviable position you found yourselves in...however we believe we expedited our responsibilities effectively and with due care and consideration based on the facts available to us.

"We of course realise that for THFC a feeling of unfairness at the ill fated events of last Sunday will linger but trust that you will put this behind you and concentrate on domestic and Uefa Cup success next season."

New24

It's a shame that Tottenham never got the chance to replay the game,If it had only been one or two players that were affected with the illness before the game then I would have said let the result stand but with 10 players ill this realy hurt the team even with the big squad that Premiership clubs have.