Tottenham Hotspur have said they are "disappointed" but they have to "accept" UEFA's ruling over their Europa Conference League clash against Rennes after the French side were awarded a 3-0 win.
Going into the game in a fight with Vitesse to join Rennes in the next stage of the competition, the match was called off following a Covid outbreak at the club.
With nine first-team players, five members of staff and many U23 players all affected by Covid, Spurs, as a result, had to close down the first-team side of their Hotspur Way training base as they looked to get the situation under control.
Spurs boss Antonio Conte made it clear last week that they wanted to play the game but UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has now decided that they forfeited the game and Rennes have been handed a 3-0 win that has seen the Lilywhites crash out of Europe.
"We are disappointed by the ruling of the UEFA Appeals Body and the refusal to allow more time for the match to be rescheduled," said a Tottenham Hotspur spokesperson.
"We have to accept this ruling, however, and our focus now turns to the competitions we remain in."
A statement from UEFA read: "Following several positive cases of COVID-19 that were identified from players and staff of Tottenham Hotspur FC, the 2021/22 UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Stade Rennais FC - scheduled to be played on 9 December 2021 in London, United Kingdom – could not be played.
"The matter was submitted to the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body, for a decision to be taken in accordance with Annex J of the Regulations of the UEFA Europa Conference League (2021/22 Season). Based on the Article 30 (4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations and given the urgent circumstances of the matter, the ad-hoc chairman of the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body referred the case to the Appeals Body.
"The Chairman of the UEFA Appeals Body took the following decision: To declare the 2021/22 UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Stade Rennais FC, that was initially scheduled to be played on 9 December 2021, as forfeited by Tottenham Hotspur FC, who is therefore deemed to have lost the match 0-3 in accordance with Annex J.3.1 to the Regulations of the UEFA Europa Conference League (2021/22 Season)."
The decision now means that Vitesse will take on Rapid Wien in the Europa Conference League knockout round play-off.
