Spurs demand replay

VHAMBLIDINHO · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 4:28 am Post subject: Spurs demand replay

Tottenham Hotspur asked the Premier League on Tuesday to order that their game against West Ham last weekend be replayed.

Ten Tottenham players went down with food poisoning the night before Sunday's game which Spurs lost 2-1, allowing Arsenal to take fourth place in the Premier League and pip them to the last Champions League spot.

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

"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, while our fans have been left with a sense of suspicion and injustice at the way subsequent events unfolded," Spurs chairperson Daniel Levy said in a letter to Premier League chair Dave Richards.

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

In response a Premier League spokesperson said that as far as it was concerned the clubs had fulfilled the fixture. However, he said Spurs' letter would be considered by the three-man Premier League board on Wednesday.

Levy said Tottenham had the backing of other Premier League (FAPL) clubs in requesting a replay.

"We now have confirmation from a majority of Premier League clubs that they would support a replay and in similar circumstances would expect the game to have been postponed," Levy said. "We therefore formally request that you order that the game be replayed."

First-team players Michael Dawson, Edgar Davids, Michael Carrick, Robbie Keane and Teemu Tainio were among those struck down by food poisoning after a buffet meal at the team hotel in east London on Saturday night.

However, all five played in the 2-1 defeat at West Ham United, a result which, coupled with Arsenal's 4-2 win over Wigan, meant Spurs missed out on fourth place and had to settle for a place in the Uefa Cup.

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VHAMBLIDINHO · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 9:10 am Post subject:

The Premier League say they have found 'no grounds' to replay Tottenham's match against West Ham after a number of Spurs players were struck down by food poisoning.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy sent an open letter to League chairman Dave Richards asking for the game to be replayed after defeat at Upton Park cost Spurs fourth place in the table and qualification for the Champions League.

But in a written response to the north London club, the Premier League said they 'find no grounds for acceding to your request for a replay'.

The League accepted the sickness and diarrhoea which affected a number of players meant it was an 'unsatisfying' way for the season to end, but said the board had to take a 'dispassionate view' of the matter.

The statement continued: 'THFC did have the option of not fulfilling the fixture and will have made its own assessment of the risks associated with that decision.

'It would have been for an independent commission to have decided the merits of your case; rule on any sanction and/or the appropriateness of a replay.

'The board does not wish to jeopardise the respect and excellent relationship that exists between us and THFC.

'We remain very sympathetic to the unenviable position you found yourselves in and hope that neither THFC or any other club will suffer the same fate again.

'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.'

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drunken_master · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 7:21 pm Post subject:

thats like saying we lost a game because our players were injured and we need a reply. these guys from spurs must just agree that they lost

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