On Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 the head coach of the Tottenham Hotspur football club, Antonio Conte, announced to media that a total of 8 of his players as well as 5 staff members of the team all have tested positive for COVID – 19 (coronavirus). This major COVID – 19 outbreak may have devastating outcomes both on and off of the pitch.
Following Tottenham Hotspur’s 3 to 0 victory over Norwich City last Sunday, December 5th, 2021 they are next scheduled to play Brighton at their home stadium this Sunday, December 12th, 2021. This game may have to be postponed or cancelled due to the fact that the Tottenham Hotspur football club has so many players in the COVID – 19 protocol, and they will have to quarantine for a number of days as well as test negative for the virus prior to rejoining the team and overall organization.
Conte goes on to explain that he only has 11 – players available for the upcoming home game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. According to the rules set by UEFA, a game must go ahead and be played as long as the football club has a minimum of 13 available senior players which includes at least one of them being a goalie.
Antonio Conte goes on to say that, “everyone is a bit scared,” at the club since individuals have been coming into close contact with other people who did previously test negative for COVID – 19, but then they later tested positive for this deadly virus that has the world upended these days.
Conte also expressed his extremely strong concern that the Tottenham Hotspur players as well as members of his staff may be passing on the coronavirus to their loved ones when they return back home with their family and friends.
The British media reported that Tottenham Hotspur has requested for their Premier League game versus Brighton this Sunday to be postponed. Conte would not officially confirm that at his press conference on Wednesday. A total of 6 Premier League matches were postponed the previous season due to the outbreak of the COVID – 19 virus at various football clubs.
Tottenham Hotspur presently sits in 2nd – place in their group of the Conference League (the 3rd – tier European competition), and they are currently tied in points with 3rd – place Vitesse. The French football club Rennes have already come out on top of the group with just 1 – match left to play. The 2nd – place club in the group will qualify for a playoff opportunity for the last 16 vs. a club that will drop down out of the Europa League.
Media Statements
“Every day we are having people with COVID,” the manager of Tottenham Hotspur Antonio Conte explained via a news conference just one day prior to a match versus the French team Rennes in the Europa Conference League.
“Everyone is a bit scared. At the end of the training session today, again one player is positive, another member of staff is positive. Tomorrow, who? Me? Another player? Another member of staff? We continue in this way but the situation is serious.”
“We have families, we have contact with our families when we come back home,” a noticeably emotional Conte stated.“It is a situation that makes me upset. Now for sure we are bit scared, because tomorrow we don’t know what happens.”
Sources:
The Associated Press News Services. “Conte says 8 Spurs players, 5 staff members have coronavirus”. The Associated Press. December 8, 2021.